[Overview of Alternative Methods of Cochleostomy with Focus on Laser Ablative Techniques]

Bone removal during mastoidectomy and cochleostomy or round window enlargement prior to electrode insertion is typically performed with a drill. The present work is a review of alternate methods of mastoidectomy and cochleostomy/round window enlargement that may reduce the risk of acoustic inner ear trauma associated with use of surgical drills during cochlear implant surgery.

MEDLINE database search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. Inclusion criteria for this study was the use of a laser to ablate the bone respectively the opening of Cochlear in terms of Cochleostomy.

For the experimental studies, a total number of 4 papers were found, which deal with the application of the widely used CO2 laser. A comparison of the works could only partially under the above criteria, since no single study protocol was used and not always the sound pressure levels were determined occurring or evidence of damage to the inner ear missing. But for all that, a comparison of the work has been attempted because it is the authors' opinion about a promising approach to the atraumatic opening of the inner ear.

There are promising approaches, using a laser to realize the erosion of bone and perform the opening of the inner ear. Nevertheless, there is a significant need for further investigations and in particular, the acoustic injury is not well enough understood here.