Difficulties of Cochlear Implantation in Malformations of the Inner Ear

Data from various authors indicate that 20% of children with sensorineural hearing loss or deafness have computed tomography results showing abnormalities in the structure of the temporal bones. Cochlear implantation in the presence of cochleovestibular anomalies is associated with a number of difficulties. These include details of how cochleostomy is performed and how electrodes are placed within the cochlea, the risk of damage to the facial nerve due to its abnormal location and its aberrant stimulation in the postoperative period, intraoperative liquorrhea, which can lead to the development of bacterial meningitis in the postoperative period, as well as the risk of penetration of the electrode into the internal auditory canal. The present report describes our method of performing cochlear implantation in the presence of a developmental malformation of the inner ear, i.e., common cavity. The method expands the possibilities of cochlear implantation to restore auditory perception in patients with this pathology.