Graeme Clark Collection

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    Cochlear implants in children: the value of cochleostomy seals in the prevention of labyrinthitis following pneumococcal otitis media
    Dahm, M. C. ; Webb, R. L. ; Clark, Graeme M. ; Franz, B. K-H. ; Shepherd, R. K. ; Burton, M. J. ; ROBINS-BROWNE, R. ( 1995)
    Cochlea implantation at an early age is important in rehabilitating profoundly hearing impaired children. Given the incidence of pneumococcal otitis media in young children, there has been concern that cochlear implantation could increase the possibility of otitis media, leading to labyrinthitis in this age group. Clinical experience has not indicated an increase in the frequency of otitis media and labyrinthitis in implanted adults or children over two years. However, labyrinthitis has occurred in implanted animals with otitis media. In order to assess the impact of cochlear implants on the occurrence of labyrinthitis, pneumococcal otitis media was induced in 21 kittens. Thirty-two kitten cochleas were implanted, of which 9 had a fascial graft and 9 a Gelfoam® graft. Nine control cochleas were unimplanted. Labyrinthitis occurred in 44% of unimplanted controls. 50% of implanted ungrafted cochleas, and 6% of implanted grafted cochleas. There was no statistically significant difference between the incidence of labyrinthitis in the implanted cochleas and the unimplanted controls. However there was a statistically significant difference between the ungrafted and grafted cochleas, but not between the two types of graft.
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    Surgical complications with the cochlear multiple-channel intracochlear implant: experience at Hannover and Melbourne
    Webb, Robert L. ; Lehnhardt, Ernst ; Clark, Graeme M. ; Laszig, Roland ; Pyman, Brian C. ; Franz, Burkhard K-H. G. ( 1991)
    The surgical complications for the first 153 multi-channel cochlear implant operations carried out at the Medizinische Hochschule in Hannover and the first 100 operations at The University of Melbourne Clinic, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, are presented. In the Hannover experience the major complications were wound breakdown, wound infection, electrode tie erosion through the external auditory canal, electrode slippage, a persistent increase in tinnitus, and facial nerve stimulation. The incidence of wound breakdown requiring removal of the package was 0.6% in Hannover and 1.0% in Melbourne. The complications for the operation at both clinics were at acceptable levels. It was considered that wound breakdown requiring implant removal could be kept to a minimum by making a generous incision and suturing the flap without tension.
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    Preliminary results for the Cochlear Corporation multielectrode intracochlear implant in six prelingually deaf patients
    Clark, Graeme M. ; Busby, Peter A. ; Roberts, Susan A. ; Dowell, Richard C. ; Blamey, Peter J. ; Mecklenburg, Dianne J. ; Webb, Robert L. ; Pyman, Brian C. ; Franz, Burkhard K. ( 1987)
    The preliminary results from this study indicate that some prelingually deaf patients may get worthwhile help from a multiple-electrode cochlear implant that uses a formant-based speech processing strategy. It is encouraging that these improvements can occur in young adults and teenagers. The results for two children are also encouraging. A 10-year-old child obtained significant improvement on some speech perception tests. It was easy to set thresholds and comfortable listening levels on a 5-year-old child, and he is now a regular user of the device. There are, however, considerable variations in performance among the prelingual patients, which may be related to the following factors: whether they have had some hearing after birth, the method of education used, the motivation of the patient, and age at implantation.
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    The histopathology of the human temporal bone following cochlear implantation in a patient: a summary
    Clark, Graeme M. ; Shepherd, R. K. ; Webb, R. L. ; Franz, B. K-H. ( 1987)
    The macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the implanted and unimplanted temporal bones in a patient who had a cochlear prosthesis for 27 months prior to his death from cardiac disease has shown that the device is biocompatible, and does not lead to any significant adverse effects. The cause of deafness was meningitis.