Cochlear implantation and simultaneous posterior semicircular canal plugging

BACKGROUND: Intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) may be treated by plugging the affected semicircular canal (SCC). A cochlear implant (CI) can diminish subjective symptoms of tinnitus. We present a case with intractable BPPV and incapacitating tinnitus who underwent surgery, simultaneously plugging his posterior SCC (PSCC) and implanting an ipsilateral CI.

CASE: A 50-year-old male experienced single-sided deafness (SSD) with severe ipsilateral tinnitus, and intractable BPPV related to the ipsilateral PSCC. Two years earlier, he had been treated with a bone anchored hearing system (BAHS) for his single-sided hearing loss, but his tinnitus and BPPV persisted. The patient was elected for surgical plugging of the affected SCC and was offered a simultaneous ipsilateral CI to treat his hearing loss and reduce his disabling tinnitus. The procedure was initially clinically and subjectively successful, but the tinnitus worsened, following an MRI despite regular precautions.

CONCLUSION: This is the first case presentation of cochlear implantation performed concurrent to plugging of the ipsilateral PSCC. The outcome of the procedure was overall successful.