Further experience with a straight, vertical incision for placement of cochlear implants.

Experience with a straight, vertical incision for cochlear implantation in 168 patients of all ages is reported and comparison made with previous experience using a 'C' shaped incision in 173 patients with regard to complications encountered. With the straight incision the only complication was a wound infection which settled in one week; this is in contrast to the 'C' shaped incision, which was associated with a number of serious complications. The straight incision also compared favourably with the other incisions commonly used for cochlear implantation and appears to offer advantages over them.