Long-Term Outcomes Following Cochlear Implantation: Device “Aging” and Hearing Performance by Davide Soloperto 1,Gennaro Confuorto 2ORCID,Virginia Dallari 3,*ORCID,Luca Sacchetto 4,Marco Carner 4,Daniele Monzani 4ORCID andRiccardo Nocini 4 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Modena, 41125 Modena, Italy 2 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sassuolo Hospital, AUSL Modena, 41049 Sassuolo, Italy 3 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital, AUSL della Romagna, 48121 Ravenna, Italy 4 Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15020019 Submission received: 26 December 2024 / Revised: 13 February 2025 / Accepted: 22 February 2025 / Published: 24 February 2025 Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figure Versions Notes Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and audiological outcomes in long-term cochlear implant (CI) users, focusing on hearing performance and device failures. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent CI surgery, with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Device survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves, and failure rates were classified as device failure explants or medical-related explants. The time to revision and causes of reimplantation were assessed. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation for audiological outcomes, Student’s t-test for group comparisons, and the log-rank test for survival comparisons among implant brands. Results: In this study, data from a total of 211 CIs were collected. Fourteen major postoperative complications were reported in this series, resulting in a global major complication rate of 6.6%: 5.2% due to hard failure and 1.4% due to medical problems and soft failure. The revision rate was 4.1% for the children’s group and 10% for the adult group. The overall device survival rates were more than 96% at 10 years and 91% at 20 years. The median postoperative follow-up was 16.3 years. Moreover, a highly significant correlation was observed (r = 0.669, p < 0.0001) between pure tone average (PTA) thresholds at implant activation and those at the last follow-up, as analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Conclusions: The CI is a lifelong device; however, the technology is constantly evolving. Therefore, careful patient counseling (or counseling of parents in the case of pediatric patients) is necessary. The device may wear out over time, requiring revision surgery. These data are essential for audiologists and ENT specialists when selecting patients and determining surgical indications.
Long-Term Outcomes Following Cochlear Implantation: Device “Aging” and Hearing Performance
Davide Soloperto;Gennaro Confuorto Gennaro Confuorto;Virginia Dallari;Luca Sacchetto;Marco Carner;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Long-Term Outcomes Following Cochlear Implantation: Device “Aging” and Hearing Performance by Davide Soloperto 1,Gennaro Confuorto 2ORCID,Virginia Dallari 3,*ORCID,Luca Sacchetto 4,Marco Carner 4,Daniele Monzani 4ORCID andRiccardo Nocini 4 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Modena, 41125 Modena, Italy 2 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sassuolo Hospital, AUSL Modena, 41049 Sassuolo, Italy 3 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Santa Maria delle Croci Hospital, AUSL della Romagna, 48121 Ravenna, Italy 4 Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Department, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15020019 Submission received: 26 December 2024 / Revised: 13 February 2025 / Accepted: 22 February 2025 / Published: 24 February 2025 Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figure Versions Notes Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and audiological outcomes in long-term cochlear implant (CI) users, focusing on hearing performance and device failures. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who underwent CI surgery, with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Device survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves, and failure rates were classified as device failure explants or medical-related explants. The time to revision and causes of reimplantation were assessed. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation for audiological outcomes, Student’s t-test for group comparisons, and the log-rank test for survival comparisons among implant brands. Results: In this study, data from a total of 211 CIs were collected. Fourteen major postoperative complications were reported in this series, resulting in a global major complication rate of 6.6%: 5.2% due to hard failure and 1.4% due to medical problems and soft failure. The revision rate was 4.1% for the children’s group and 10% for the adult group. The overall device survival rates were more than 96% at 10 years and 91% at 20 years. The median postoperative follow-up was 16.3 years. Moreover, a highly significant correlation was observed (r = 0.669, p < 0.0001) between pure tone average (PTA) thresholds at implant activation and those at the last follow-up, as analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Conclusions: The CI is a lifelong device; however, the technology is constantly evolving. Therefore, careful patient counseling (or counseling of parents in the case of pediatric patients) is necessary. The device may wear out over time, requiring revision surgery. These data are essential for audiologists and ENT specialists when selecting patients and determining surgical indications.
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