Migration of Cochlear Implants in Cochlear Implantation and its Effect on Implant Performance

Introduction This study aimed to detect incidence of migration of any part of cochlear implant and effect of this migration on device performance. The study was conducted on one hundred and twenty patients collected from cochlear implantation program of Wadi EL Neel hospital underwent the operation from 2008 till 2017 and were in their routine follow up in 2017.

Material and methods The surgical technique used to all study patients was a simple and secure method of cochlear implant fixation without any foreign body materials.

The implant device was inserted in a bony bed that was drilled into the skull fitting exactly to the size and shape of the device and the electrode was implanted intra-cochlear without any fixation method and covered by fat.

All study patients were subjected to sequence audiological Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) and impedance to each electrode channel and compared with results that were recorded intraoperative. Also all patients were subjected to 2D and 3D reconstruction CT scan to detect the implant pocket, implant stability in its pocket and intra-cochlear electrode position.

Results The results showed slight migration of the device over the edges of the drilled pocket in 9 cases (7.5%) and basal electrode extrusion outside the cochlea in 5 patients (4.1%).

Conclusion Stability of 91.7% of implanted devices in their drilled socket and about 96% of inserted electrode intra-cochlear proved that the surgical technique used in this study is a cost and time saving procedure for fixation of the device as there is no need for additional materials or complicated suture or screw fixations.

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020