Analysis of Postoperative Vertigo Following Cochlear Implant Surgery

Abstract

We investigated the incidence of postoperative vertigo and explored factors influencing the risk of its development following cochlear implant (CI) surgery.

The study included 105 patients aged 18 years or older who underwent their first CI implantation at our institution between April 2014 and March 2024. We defined “postoperative vertigo” as the development of vertigo within one month after the surgery. The patients were classified into two groups—a vertigo group and a no-vertigo group—based on whether they developed/did not develop postoperative vertigo. We examined the incidence of postoperative vertigo and investigated its association with the age, gender, surgical method employed, electrode shape, electrode thickness, prior vertigo history, and preoperative vestibular function.

The results revealed no association between the development of postoperative vertigo and the age, gender, surgical method employed, electrode shape, or electrode thickness. However, postoperative vertigo occurred significantly more frequently in patients with prior vertigo history, patients with preoperative vestibular dysfunction at least on one side, especially in those with vestibular dysfunction in the non-surgical ear.

In conclusion, it is important to obtain a careful history of prior vertigo episodes and to perform vestibular function tests on both the surgical and non-surgical sides prior to CI surgery to predict the risk of development of postoperative vertigo.