A novel method for evaluating mastoid defect regrowth after cochlear implantation

This retrospective study examined mastoid defects resulting from cochlear implant (CI) surgery and their potential for spontaneous regrowth across different age groups. Spontaneous closure of mastoid defects has been observed in certain CI patients during revision surgery or through post-operative temporal bone computer tomography (TB-CT). The analysis encompassed 123 CI recipients, comprising 81.3% children and 18.7% adults, who underwent post-operative TB-CT scans. Using image adjustment software, the study measured mastoid defect areas and found a significant reduction in children's defects between the initial and subsequent scans. Notably, mastoid defect areas differed significantly between children and adults at both time points. Furthermore, the analysis revealed significant correlations between mastoid defect areas and the age at implantation as well as the time elapsed since the CI surgery and the first CT scan. This study provides valuable insights for evaluating CI patients scheduled for revision surgery by assessing potential surgical challenges and duration. Furthermore, it may have a pivotal role in evaluating patients who experience postauricular swelling subsequent to CI surgery.