Cochlear Implantation in Goldenhar Syndrome

Goldenhar syndrome is a rare genetic condition characterized by hemifacial microsomia, mandibular hypoplasia, auricular malformations, and epibulbar dermoids. The syndrome has both sporadic and familial occurrence. Incidence of congenital hearing loss in these patients is 1:1000 in children with a male to female ratio of 3:2. In our case study we report a case of Goldenhar Syndrome who underwent cochlear implantation. The patient had right side microtia, right hemifacial microsomia and right side torticollis, pterygium in her right eye, right hypoplastic thumb and unilateral right side kidney. Radiologically, there was narrow duplicated internal auditory canal on right side with absent right cochlear nerve with normal anatomy on left side and the left side showed malformed facial nerve at tympani segment and second genu. Therefore, the patient was planned for left side cochlear implantation. Intraoperatively, there were malformed ossicles with anomalous facial nerve covering whole of oval window and partially the round window. Thus, a separate cochleostomy was done. Impedance was < 5 Hertz in all electrodes and electrically evoked action potential (ECAP) thresholds were obtained on all electrodes.