Scala vestibuli cochlear implantation for labyrinthine ossification.

Labyrinthine ossification is a common occurrence in patients with profound deafness. This may run as high as 80 percent in patients deafened by meningitis. Ossification sometimes makes cochlear implantation difficult. Two patients are presented with severe scala tympani cochlear ossification who had scala vestibuli electrode implantation. Their functional and audiologic results seem to be equal to those expected with scala tympani implantation. Scala vestibuli implantation seems to be a viable alternative in patients with scala tympani ossification.