Hearing loss disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Recent advances in cochlear implant surgery have benefitted patients globally, but the risk of complications in LMICs may be heightened due to social and structural factors. This systematic review characterises the types and rates of complications reported in LMICs, while identifying the key barriers and facilitators to safe surgery....
No direct change to practice in high-income settings, but the findings are essential for global health advocates and surgeons working in or supporting cochlear implant programs in low- and middle-income countries.
Understanding complication rates in LMICs is essential for designing safe scale-up strategies for cochlear implantation globally, where the burden of untreated hearing loss is highest.
- 01Systematic review catalogues surgical complication rates for cochlear implantation specifically in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- 02Examines disparities in outcomes and access compared to higher-resource settings.
- 03Findings are relevant to global hearing health initiatives and humanitarian audiology programs.
- 04Identifies risks that may be amplified by infrastructure, training, or resource limitations in LMICs.
- 05Published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, providing peer-reviewed credibility.
Cochlear implant surgical complication rates and risk profiles in LMICs differ from those in high-income countries.
studypartially supportedThere are disparities in cochlear implant surgical outcomes tied to country income level.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42307989
- DOI
- 10.1002/ohn.70318.
- Journal
- Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Publication type
- meta_analysis
- Evidence level
- 2a
- Population
- Cochlear implant surgical patients in low- and middle-income countries
- Intervention
- Cochlear implant surgery in LMICs
Primary outcomes
Surgical complication rates; Outcomes disparities compared to high-income country benchmarks