Abstract
We report two cases of cochlear reimplantation due to electrode problems. Case 1: A 76-year-old woman, complaining right-ear tinnitus in the 8 years following CI22 cochlear implantation in the right ear, was found in an X-ray examination to have the electrode array bending near the cochlear stoma. In cochlear reimplantation using a CI22 device upgraded to CI24RCS, fibrous tissue around the stoma and in the cochlear basal turn was removed and the electrode was replaced. Her speech perception score improved thereafter and tinnitus was reduced. Case 2: A 6-year-old boy with bilateral inner ear malformation presented with right facial spasm and decreased speech recognition 2 years and 4 months after right-ear cochlear implantation. An X-ray examination showed slight electrode slipout, so we inserted a CI24M device upgraded to CI24RCS, after which his speech perception score improved. Cochlear reimplantation was thus proved to be safe and effective in cases of electrode problems.
