OBJECTIVETo approach the incidence rate, symptoms, etiologies, correlating reasons, consequences and treatments of local responses caused by implant after cochlear implantation and to provide reference for the future works.

METHODSFrom 1995 to 2007 there were 997 cases adopted cochlear implantation in Peding Union Medical College Hospital. Ten cases experienced local responses were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe incidence of local response was 1.003%. There were 6 males and 4 females. The ages were between 13 months to 8 years old. The average age was 34 months. The devices mainly were made by Cochlear and Med-EL companies. The mainly symptoms and signs were local swellings, complaint of pruritus after ear, decrease of sound legibility and so on. Onset frequencies of this disease was 1 to 8 times. The bacterium cultured of displacing liquids was negative. But the IgE was detected in 2 cases. Results showed the patients were midrange status of hypersensitivity. Positive conservative treatments must be done including antibiotics, antihistamines, necessarily using immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSBesides local infection of bacteria, the allergy caused by silicone of implant coupled be a reason. Although the diagnose of this disease was difficult, but the screening of source of hypersensitivity was necessary before operation. It was recurrent attacks and maybe liable by kindred patients. Onset age was more below 4 years old. The patch test should be done again when the symptoms were occurrence after operation. If severe secondary infection was occurred and the states could not be well controlled the devices in the body must be explanted immediately. When the conditions were stable reimplantation could be experienced by non-sensibilisinogen devices.