Learning Objectives: İmplantable hearing aids recently began to widely use for conductive or mixed hearing losses. Abnormalities or altered anatomy due to chronic otitis media may be a risk factor for complications.In this presentation important points in avoiding complications would be stressed.
Introduction: Implantable hearing aids have been developed to use in sensorineural hearing loss cases.However usage of this active middle ear implants in conductive and/or mixed hearing loss recently popularised.Majority of these cases are either chronic otitis media caes who do not get satisfactory hearing after tympanomastodectomy or congenital outer and /or middle ear abnboırmality cases.Altered anatomy due to previous surgeries or abnormalities may be a risk factor for complications in middle ear implant surgeries.
Method: Twenty nine cases implanted with an electromagnetic implant (Vibrant MED-EL or Otologics Carina) at Izmir Bozyaka Teaching and Research Hospital were retrospectively evaluated.Complications,adverse events and revision or reimplantation surgeries were noted.
Results: Four out of 29 cases required a revisison surgery.Two cases gradually lost the hearing and we had to use a cochlear implant 2 and 6 years after first surgery.Possible factors leading to complications were evaluated.
Conclusions: Usage of middle ear implants for chronic otitis media or outer and/or middle ear abnormalities necessitates some modiifications in surgical technique.
Learning Objectives: Middle ear implants can be succesfully used for rehabilitation conductive/or mixed hearin losses.However surgery should be idividually tailored in majority of the cases.
