Ten-year follow-up on the first five inner ear valve implants for intractable vertigo in Sweden

Ten-year clinical results are reported on the first five inner ear valve implants done in Sweden in 1975 and 1976. If the patient had a positive glycerol dehydration test (n = 4) the chances of excellent results for hearing at one year as well as complete elimination of vertigo were high. At ten years, two of the four patients with positive glycerol dehydration tests maintained excellent hearing and complete elimination of vertigo. One patient's hearing deteriorated, but he was still completely free of vertigo at ten years. One patient had a labyrinthectomy at three years, but now we would have considered a revision valve implant before a destructive procedure. The patients who had clinical evidence of bilateral disease did not do as well at ten years as patients with unilateral disease. With ten year follow-up it has been shown that the inner ear valve implant is a safe and effective nondestructive alternative to labyrinthectomy for salvaging patients who failed medical therapy.