Cochlear implant failure due to unexpected absence of the eighthnerve – a cautionary tale

Abstract

AbstractWe present a case of bilateral absence of the eighth cranial nerve in the internal auditory meatus (IAM). This caused total failure of responses after cochlear implantation in a six-year-old patient with congenital deafness. Pre-operative magnetic resonance (MR)imaging is important to show not only the anatomy of the middle and inner ears but also the structures in the IAM.