Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| [b] Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| [c] Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Postgraduate Medical School, Prague, Czech Republic
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Ondřej Čakrt, Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague 5, Czech Republic. Tel.: +420 224 439 201; Fax: +420 224 439 220; E-mail: ondrej.cakrt@lf2.cuni.cz.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Cochlear implantation (CI) is associated with changes in the histopathology of the inner ear and impairment of vestibular function. OBJECTIVE:The objectives of our study were to evaluate patients for clinical manifestations of space perception and balance changes before surgery, compare them with asymptomatic subjects (controls), and report changes in posturography and subjective visual vertical (SVV) during the acute post-surgery period in patients. METHODS:Examination was performed using static posturography and the SVV measurement. We examined 46 control subjects and 39 CI patients. Patients were examined pre-surgery (Pre), 2nd day (D2) and then 14th day (D14) after implantation. RESULTS:Baseline SVV was not different between patients and control group. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in SVV between subgroups of right- and left-implanted patients at D2 (–1.36±3.02° and 2.71±2.36°, right and left side implanted respectively) but not Pre (0.76±1.07° and 0.31±1.82°) or D14 (0.72±1.83° and 1.29±1.60°). Baseline posturography parameters between patients and control group were statistically significantly different during stance on foam with eyes closed (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in posturography among Pre, D2 and D14. CONCLUSIONS:CI candidates have impaired postural control before surgery. CI surgery influences perception of subjective visual vertical in acute post-surgery period with SVV deviation contralateral to side of cochlear implantation, but not after two weeks.
Keywords: Vestibular function, adults, posturography, space perception, inner ear
surgery
