Temporal bone histopathology of a patient with a nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant.

The temporal bone histopathology of a patient with profound sensorineural hearing loss attributable to cochlear otosclerosis is presented. The patient had a Nucleus 22-channel cochlear prosthesis implanted in the right ear prior to his demise. Unintentional scala media insertion of the electrode array resulted from labyrinthitis ossificans obliteration of the scala tympani. Inadvertent facial nerve stimulation necessitated program exclusion of electrodes 11 to 16 located in proximity to the labyrinthine and geniculate segments of the facial nerve. The patient received significant benefit from use of the device. The histopathologic findings are correlated with psychophysical and speech perception results.