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Cochlear Implant Electrode Tip Fold-Over: Our Experience With Long and Flexible Electrode
Catalina Högerle1, Anna Englhard1, Florian Simon1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich.
Summary
Electrode tip fold-over is highly exceptional with flexible lateral wall cochlear implant electrodes, with no cases detected in 378 patients. This contrasts with pre-curved electrodes, highlighting the safety of straight lateral wall designs.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Electrode tip fold-over is a potential complication during cochlear implant (CI) surgery.
- Understanding the incidence of this complication is crucial for patient safety and device development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of electrode tip fold-over with 31.5 mm flexible lateral wall electrodes.
- To compare findings with existing literature on CI electrode tip fold-over across different brands and types.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of post-operative X-rays from 378 CI patients implanted with FLEX SOFT electrodes in Germany.
- Systematic literature review of peer-reviewed publications on CI electrode tip fold-over until December 2020.
Main Results:
- No instances of electrode tip fold-over were identified in the 378 analyzed cases.
- Literature review showed a 5.3% incidence for pre-curved electrodes and 1% for straight lateral wall electrodes (excluding the current study).
Conclusions:
- Electrode tip fold-over is highly exceptional with flexible lateral wall CI electrodes.
- Straight lateral wall electrodes demonstrate a low incidence of tip fold-over, suggesting a favorable safety profile.
