Electrode array design determines scalar position, dislocation rate and angle and postoperative speech perception

The aim of this study is to examine the scalar dislocation rate in straight and perimodiolar electrode arrays in relation to cochlear morphology. Furthermore, we aim to analyze the specific dislocation point of electrode arrays depending on their design and shape and to correlate these results to postoperative speech perception.

We conducted a comparative analysis of patients (ears: n = 495) implanted between 2013 and 2018 with inserted perimodiolar or straight electrode arrays from Cochlear™ or MED-EL. CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) was used to determine electrode array position (scalar insertion, intra-cochlear dislocation, point of dislocation and angular insertion depth). Furthermore, cochlear morphology was measured. The postoperative speech discrimination was compared regarding electrode array dislocation, primary scalar insertion and angular insertion depth.

The electrode array with the highest rate of primary SV insertions was the CA; the electrode array with the highest rate of dislocations out of ST was the Flex^Soft. We did not find significantly higher dislocation rates in cochleostomy-inserted arrays. The angle of dislocation was electrode array design-specific. A multivariate nonparametric analysis revealed that the dislocation of the electrode array has no significant influence on postoperative speech perception. Nevertheless, increasing angular insertion depth significantly reduced postoperative speech perception for monosyllables.

This study demonstrates the significant influence of electrode array design on scalar location, dislocation and the angle of dislocation itself. Straight and perimodiolar electrode arrays differ from each other regarding both the rate and place of dislocation. Insertion via cochleostomy does not lead to increased dislocation rates in any of the included electrode arrays. Furthermore, speech perception is significantly negatively influenced by angular insertion depth.