CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Laryngorhinootologie 2018; 97(S 02): S218
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1640467
Poster
Otologie: Otology

Cochlear Implant and the risk of falls: a long-term evaluation

J Louza
1   HNO-Klinikum, Klinikum der Universität München, München
,
CL Klappert
2   HNO-Klinik, Klinikum der Universität München, München
,
R Gürkov
2   HNO-Klinik, Klinikum der Universität München, München
,
E Krause
3   Praxis, München
,
J Müller
2   HNO-Klinik, Klinikum der Universität München, München
,
JM Hempel
2   HNO-Klinik, Klinikum der Universität München, München
,
M Canis
2   HNO-Klinik, Klinikum der Universität München, München
› Author Affiliations
Verein zur Förderung von Wissenschaft und Forschung an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München e.V.
› Further Information
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    Introduction:

    A potential risk after cochlear implantation (CI) is the development of vertigo. In view of the extended indication and also implantation in older patients, the development of vertigo is a relevant factor for postoperative management. In association with vertigo is the risk of falls. The current study aimed to investigate the long-term follow-up of the risk of falls after CI.

    Methods:

    In a prospective clinical study, 25 adult patients CI candidates were included. Postural control and stability were assessed using the mobile posturography device (Vertiguard®). The posturography determines the body sway forward-to-backward, as well as side-to-side in degrees per second. The patients underwent before surgery, 3 – 5 days and 4 – 6 weeks after the Standard Balance Deficit Test or the geriatric Standard Balance Deficit Test (for patients older than 60 years). The risk of falls was calculated in comparison with age- and gender-specific norm values.

    Results:

    The mean preoperative risk of falls was 47%, directly postoperative 49%, and after 6 weeks 43%. The risk of falls after 6 weeks was, compared to before surgery, significant lower.

    Conclusions:

    At all the measured time periods, the risk of falls was in average higher than for a healthy population (> 40%). There was no significant difference in fall risk directly after CI, but 6 weeks after there was a significant improvement. Possible explanations are central compensation mechanisms and the effect of practice. The influence of hearing rehabilitation with activated cochlear implant on the risk of falls is planned in another project.


    #

    No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

    Dr. med. Julia Louza
    Klinikum Großhadern, LMU München,
    Marchioninistr. 15, 81377,
    München

    Publication History

    Publication Date:
    18 April 2018 (online)

    © 2018. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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