Implant Complications

It's not rare for children who are given cochlear implants to have complications. A study of more than 400 young patients found about one-in-ten experienced complications during the follow-up period. And about a third of those needed a second surgery for re-implantation. Two dozen had major complications, including severe infections and meningitis. Nineteen had minor complications including vertigo, soft-tissue infections, persistent inflammation of the middle ear and facial paralysis. Researchers say the young age of implantation didn't seem to be the cause of the complications. Details are in the Archives of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery.