The suprameatal approach: an alternative surgical technique for cochlear implantation.

The suprameatal approach (SMA) for cochlear implantation was developed in our department in 1999. This technique is based on retroauricular tympanotomy and does not include mastoidectomy. The SMA eliminates possible injury to the facial nerve and chorda tympani, shortens operative time, enables easier drilling of cochleostomy and better control of the electrode insertion, permits the preservation of residual hearing and improves the aesthetic results.