Delayed facial nerve palsy after surgery for the Esteem® fully implantable middle ear hearing device. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barbara, Maurizio; Volpini, Luigi; Monini, Simonetta
• Is Part Of: Acta oto-laryngologica. Volume 134:Number 4(2014)
• Page Start: 429
• Page End: 432
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Ear -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Throat -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Electronic Resources; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; 617.8
• DOI: 10.3109/00016489.2013.868602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6489

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Conclusion:</italic> Delayed facial nerve (FN) impairment was shown to occur after Esteem^® surgery, and taste disturbances were found in a limited number of subjects. Thus, when this type of active middle ear implant (AMEI) is to be implanted, these specific complications need to be shared with the candidate. <italic>Objectives:</italic> To report on FN involvement in Esteem^® AMEI surgery. <italic>Methods:</italic> A total of 23 males and 11 females, who presented with sensorineural hearing loss of varying severity, underwent surgical implantation of the Esteem^® AMEI. FN function was assessed according to the House-Brackmann (HB) grading system. A specific question regarding taste impairment was administered to each patient on the first day and 3 months after surgery. <italic>Results:</italic> None of the patients presented with a FN deficit in the first postoperative days. In three patients (8.8%), FN palsy developed after 7 days (two patients) and 10 days (one patient), and the severities were HB 4 (two cases) and HB 5 (one case). All patients fully recovered (HB 1) after 6–8 weeks. In 10 of the 34 implanted subjects (29.4%), taste disturbances were found on postoperative day 1, and these impairments remained in only 6 (17.6%) patients at the 3-month postoperative follow-up.</p> </abstract>