Impact of surgical approach and cochlear implant electrode on structural integrity of the cochlea

Abstract

Cochlear implants have been used for many years as a rehabilitation device for people with severe to profound hearing loss. Essential aspects of successful cochlear implantation are the choice of electrode type and proper insertion of the electrode array into the tympanic ladder to minimize damage to the cochlea. This article discusses the impact of surgical approaches, such as round window, cochleostomy, and extended round window, and the type of electrode array (perimodiolar or lateral wall) on scalar translocation.