Cerebrospinal Fluid Loss and Threshold Changes

Hearing loss has been reported following leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The etiology has been attributed to an induced imbalance in the intracochlear hydrodynamics. The present study reports a guinea pig model with surgically induced loss of CSF. In 18 anesthetized animals, CSF was drained by a suboccipital incision in the dura. Eighteen animals were used as controls. The compound action potentials were recorded by an ear canal silver electrode. The animals with CSF loss showed a small increase in threshold and latency, while the control group was unchanged. The concept of an induced inner ear fluid dysfunction after CSF leak is supported by these findings.