Multichannel cochlear implantation in obliterated cochleas using the Gantz procedure

Gantz, et al, reported two patients with extensive cochlear ossification in which cochlear implantation was done with a Nucleus 22-Channel Cochlear Implant after extensive cochlear drill-out. One of the patients did well with 20 functioning electrode pairs. We report an additional three patients with extensive cochlear ossification who received Nucleus 22-Channel Cochlear Implants. All three patients had extensive cochlear drill-out as described by Gantz, et al. All three patients have use of all 21 electrode pairs with amperages typical of conventional implantation in two of the three and slightly increased levels in the third. Extensive bilateral cochlear ossification does not seem to be an absolute contraindication for multi-channel cochlear implantation.