Intra-operative steroid administration during cochlear implantation is intended to reduce cochlear inflammation and preserve auditory function, but clinical evidence of benefit remains inconsistent. This study evaluated the association between intra-operative steroid use and post-operative pure tone audiometry (PTA) thresholds and speech perception outcomes in adult cochlear implant recipients.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Results should inform but not yet definitively change steroid administration practice during cochlear implantation; clinicians should weigh this retrospective cohort evidence alongside existing protocols and await prospective replication before adopting uniform intra-operative steroid use.
Intra-operative steroid use during cochlear implantation is a modifiable surgical variable, and evidence on its effect on residual hearing and speech perception could directly influence implant programming and candidacy counseling.
- 01Retrospective cohort design evaluating intra-operative steroids at time of cochlear implantation in adults.
- 02Outcomes included post-operative hearing threshold levels and speech perception scores.
- 03Steroid administration during surgery is already practiced variably across cochlear implant programs.
- 04Retrospective design limits causal conclusions due to potential confounding.
- 05Published in Audiology Research.
Intra-operative steroid administration during cochlear implantation is associated with post-operative hearing threshold and/or speech perception outcomes in adults.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42930340
- DOI
- 10.3390/audiolres16050142.
- Journal
- Audiology Research
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Adult cochlear implant recipients
- Intervention
- Intra-operative steroid administration during cochlear implantation
- Comparator
- Adult cochlear implant recipients not receiving intra-operative steroids
Primary outcomes
Post-operative hearing threshold; Speech perception outcomes