Experimental comparison of different bandaging materials for prevention of magnet displacement in cochlear implant patients

Introduction Magnetic resonance imaging in (MRI) cochlear implant (CI) patients demands special considerations to prevent magnet displacement. An essential precaution is applying a pressure bandage (PB) on the magnet which has different effects depending on type of bandage used and physician applying the bandage. The aim of this study was to compare different bandaging materials regarding the maximum force and the repeatability when used.

Material and methods: A M2S load cell was fixed on dummy head in such a way, that the forces created by the bandage could be registered. A splint like counter pressure element was used to transmit the forces of the bandage on the load cell which had a contact area of 0,5 cm. 10 different physicians applied each five indicator bandages (Cochlear ltd) bandages with printed on visual stretch indicators and five standard cohesive bandages.

Results The standard bandage in combination with the counter pressure element lead to median holding forces of 46,6±17,3N. The elastic bandage with stretch indicators lead to an average holding force of 63,3±12,3N. This is a relative increase of 62±40%. This difference was highly significant (p< 0,01). In general results with the cohesive bandage showed no greater variance than results with the elastic indicator bandage (Levene’s Test, p >0,05).

Discussion: Previous results also showed that the elastic bandage leads to higher holding forces. The visual indicators are designed to help different physicians apply similar holding forces. We could not verify this effect with our test setup. We still recommend using an elastic bandage over a normal cohesive bandage due to higher holding forces.

Poster-PDF A-1698.PDF

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020