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Cochlear implant failure due to unexpected absence of the eighthnerve – a cautionary tale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

R. F. Gray*
Affiliation:
East of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Addenbrooke' Hospital, Cambridge and the Royal National Throat Noseand Ear Hospital, London, UK.
J. Ray
Affiliation:
East of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Addenbrooke' Hospital, Cambridge and the Royal National Throat Noseand Ear Hospital, London, UK.
D. M. Baguley
Affiliation:
East of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Addenbrooke' Hospital, Cambridge and the Royal National Throat Noseand Ear Hospital, London, UK.
Z. Vanat
Affiliation:
East of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Addenbrooke' Hospital, Cambridge and the Royal National Throat Noseand Ear Hospital, London, UK.
J. Begg
Affiliation:
East of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Addenbrooke' Hospital, Cambridge and the Royal National Throat Noseand Ear Hospital, London, UK.
P. D. Phelps
Affiliation:
East of England Cochlear Implant Centre, Addenbrooke' Hospital, Cambridge and the Royal National Throat Noseand Ear Hospital, London, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr R. F. Gray, M.A., F.R.C.S., Clinic 10, Box 48, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ.

Abstract

We present a case of bilateral absence of the eighth cranial nerve in the internal auditory meatus (IAM). This caused total failure of responses after cochlear implantation in a six-year-old patient with congenital deafness. Pre-operative magnetic resonance (MR)imaging is important to show not only the anatomy of the middle and inner ears but also the structures in the IAM.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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