Norah Salem Alajmi

Cochlear implantation has emerged as a transformative intervention in addressing profound hearing loss, offering a paradigm shift in auditory rehabilitation for individuals with restricted auditory function. Throughout its history, the understanding of contraindications for cochlear implant (CI) surgery has evolved significantly. This review comprehensively analyzes the chronological advancements in the understanding of CI contraindications, examining studies conducted from historical timelines to the present. Recent research has revealed significant developments in the field, prompting a reevaluation of established criteria and resulting in expanded indications for CI. The chronological evolution of contraindications underscores the transformative nature of the field, offering potential improvements in outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with profound hearing loss. In conclusion, this narrative review emphasizes the dynamic nature of the field, where the reevaluation of contraindications has created new opportunities and broader indications for CI. The emerging prospects, including improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life, hold promise for individuals with profound hearing loss.

Background: Pneumolabyrinth consequent to a temporal bone fracture is a rare entity. It occurs when air enters the vestibulocochlear system due to a pathological communication between the middle and the inner ears. The diagnosis is usually confirmed radiologically using high-resolution computed tomography imaging. Pneumolabyrinth is categorized radiologically as follows: vestibular pneumolabyrinth, cochlear pneumolabyrinth and combined pneumolabyrinth.Case Presentation: We herein describe the clinical presentation and management of pneumolabyrinth in a 43-year-old man, following an otic capsule-violating temporal bone fracture. After initially caring for the patient conservatively, without improvement, surgical intervention was undertaken. Unfortunately, hearing was irrecoverable.Conclusion: Delaying medical and surgical intervention and the location of the air bubbles associated with the combined type contribute to the irrecoverable loss of hearing. As otic capsule-violating fractures might not be observed initially on brain CT scans, high-resolution and thin-slice CT scans of the temporal bone is crucial when suspecting temporal bone fracture.