Objective: To perform a comprehensive comparison on the therapeutic effects of unilateral 31.5 mm and 28 mm cochlear implantation (CI) on the post-operative hearing rehabilitation outcomes, including hearing threshold, speech recognition and quality of life, in patients with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: A total of 26 patients [12 males, 14 females, aged 19-71 (43±16) years] diagnosed with bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from April 2018 to August 2019 were included. Patients underwent temporal bone high resolution CT (HRCT), based on which the electrode lengths were calculated using OTOPLAN. Eleven and fifteen ears were implanted with MED-EL Flex 31.5 mm and Flex 28 mm electrode arrays respectively, via round window approach under minimally invasive surgery. The patients were followed up regularly for up to 2 years. At each follow-up, aided hearing threshold, speech recognition in quiet and noise, and Nijmegen Cochlear Implantation Questionnaire (NICQ) scores were evaluated and compared. Results: Post-operative hearing thresholds were (46.5±3.4) dB and (48.5±2.2) dB in patients implanted with MED-EL Flex 31.5 mm and Flex 28 mm electrode arrays, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P=0.074). Both hearing thresholds and speech recognition demonstrated significant post-operative improvement compared with pre-operative results. Hearing thresholds after 1-year post-operation were (32.1±1.2) dB and (32.5±0.9) dB, respectively (P=0.355). Patients implanted with Flex 31.5 mm electrode scored significantly higher at speech recognition under 65 dB sound pressure level (SPL) at most of the follow-ups (All P<0.05). Speech recognition in noise (S/N=10 dB) was also improved in patients implanted with Flex 31.5 mm electrode. All sub-divisions of the NICQ demonstrated significant post-operative improvement, and no significant difference between the 2 groups was observed apart from the"self-confidence"sub-division. Conclusions: Selection of MED-EL Flex 31.5 mm and 28 mm implantation based on pre-operative OTOPLAN evaluation can both bring significant improvements to patients' hearing and quality of life. Flex 31.5 mm electrode can potentially provide better speech recognition within a certain period after surgery.
目的： 综合评价对于双侧感音神经性耳聋患者，单侧植入全覆盖与标准长度电极对听阈、言语识别、生活质量的提升效果是否存在差异。 方法： 选取2018年4月至2019年8月在北京协和医院耳鼻喉科诊断为双侧重度-极重度感音神经性耳聋患者26例，男12例，女14例，年龄19~71（43±16）岁。术前行颞骨高分辨率CT，应用OTOPLAN软件进行评估，以经圆窗膜入路的微创手术单侧植入全覆盖电极11耳（全覆盖组），标准电极15耳（标准电极组），于术后开机时、3~5个月、6~11个月及术后1年以上分别对比两组患者声场下助听听阈，安静及噪声下言语识别与Nijmegen人工耳蜗植入量表（NICQ）评分。 结果： 全覆盖组与标准电极组患者术后开机时听阈分别为（46.5±3.4）dB与（48.5±2.2）dB，差异无统计学意义（P=0.074），术后听阈及言语识别水平均较术前提高（均P<0.05）；1年后听阈分别为（32.1±1.2）dB与（32.5±0.9）dB，差异无统计学意义（P=0.355）；除术后1年以上随访时单、双音节词与术后3~5个月的句子识别率外，全覆盖组65 dB声压级（SPL）单、双音节词及句子识别率在各次随访中均优于标准电极组（均P<0.05）；术后1年以上噪音条件（信噪比=10 dB）下，全覆盖组单、双音节词与句子识别率均高于标准电极组（均P<0.05）；NICQ量表各维度术后均提升，其中自信心维度两组提升值差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），其余各维度提升值两组比较差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。 结论： 在双侧重度-极重度感音神经性耳聋患者中单侧植入基于OTOPLAN选择的全覆盖与标准电极均能带来明显的听力及生活质量改善，全覆盖电极植入可能会提升患者术后的言语识别获益。.
Keywords: Audiology; Cochlear implantation; Electrode lengths; Hearing loss, sensorineural.