OBJECTIVE: To describe a simple technique for pediatric cochlear implant receiver-stimulators (R/S) fixation and long term results with it. METHODS: Clinical sample include thirty-two children with severe-to-profound or profound hearing loss candidate for cochlear implantation. Low-profile devices were used (Med El Concerto and Nucleus CI512). The R/S was housed into a tight subperiosteal pocket carefully dissected behind the mastoidectomy. The pocket was closed with a single periosteal to bone suture around the posterior edge of mastoidectomy. No skull drilling was required for housing the device. RESULTS: No intraoperative complications have been observed. 20% of operating time was saved. No migration of R/S over time was apparent at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: The back-pocket technique seems effective in retaining the CI package and in optimizing surgical time and safety in pediatric cochlear implantation. It seems particularly suitable with new generation low profile CI devices.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a simple technique for pediatric cochlear implant receiver-stimulators (R/S) fixation and long term results with it. METHODS: Clinical sample include thirty-two children with severe-to-profound or profound hearing loss candidate for cochlear implantation. Low-profile devices were used (Med El Concerto and Nucleus CI512). The R/S was housed into a tight subperiosteal pocket carefully dissected behind the mastoidectomy. The pocket was closed with a single periosteal to bone suture around the posterior edge of mastoidectomy. No skull drilling was required for housing the device. RESULTS: No intraoperative complications have been observed. 20% of operating time was saved. No migration of R/S over time was apparent at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: The back-pocket technique seems effective in retaining the CI package and in optimizing surgical time and safety in pediatric cochlear implantation. It seems particularly suitable with new generation low profile CI devices.
Authors: Johannes Schnabl; Astrid Wolf-Magele; Stefan Marcel Pok; Christoph Url; Patrick Zorowka; Georg Sprinzl Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 2.503