Authors: Farid Alzhrani Thomas Lenarz Magnus Teschner
Publish Date: 2016/06/08
Volume: 273, Issue: 12, Pages: 4199-4207
Abstract
Owing to its anatomical location the facial nerve FN is at risk of damage during cochlear implantation especially during posterior tympanotomy The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the risk of FN palsy following cochlear implantation surgery via mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy approach facial recess This is a retrospective study The data bank of patients who received a cochlear implant between 2000 and 2012 was analyzed 3403 surgeries were done during this period Records of the patients who had suffered from FN palsy were evaluated and the type of FN palsy the severity time of onset and need for revision surgery were recorded 076 26/3403 of the patients had FN palsy and were therefore included in the study 769 20/26 subjects were 18 years or older 015 5 subjects suffered from immediate FN palsy and 062 21 subjects from delayed FN palsy Intraoperative FN injury was documented in only three subjects of the immediate FN palsy group In two subjects with immediate FN palsy the FN was intraoperatively exposed but not injured despite these individuals’ experiencing FN palsy In 100 of the immediate onset FN palsy group a part of the FN was exposed during surgery whereas it was exposed only in 95 of the delay onset FN palsy group Although the FN was bone protected in 19 subjects they had FN palsy Most of the subjects presented HouseBrackmann grade III or IV 692 All of the subjects were treated initially with a conservative therapy only 423 11 subjects underwent revision surgery The recovery rate was 808 in immediate onset palsy 40 in delayed onset palsy 905 Cochlear implantation entails only a minimal risk of FN palsy and that FN palsy is chiefly a transient problem
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