Related Experiment Videos
Pediatric cochlear implantation. Radiologic observations of skull growth
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Insights
Long-term cochlear implantation in young animals did not cause significant skull deformity. This study suggests pediatric cochlear implant surgery is unlikely to cause long-term skull growth issues.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Auditory prostheses, like cochlear implants, are increasingly used in young children.
- Concerns exist regarding the potential impact of surgical implantation on pediatric skull development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term effects of auditory prosthesis implantation on skull growth in young animals.
- To determine if surgical drilling across calvarial sutures affects cranial development.
Main Methods:
- Four young monkeys received dummy cochlear implants, with surgical beds drilled across calvarial sutures.
- Skull roentgenograms monitored head growth for up to 3 years.
- Postmortem computed tomographic scans assessed intracranial volumes.
Main Results:
- No significant asymmetric skull growth was observed during the study period.
- Computed tomography confirmed no significant differences in intracranial volumes between implanted and control sides.
- No significant differences were found between experimental and nonimplanted control monkeys.
Conclusions:
- Long-term cochlear implantation in young subjects does not appear to cause significant skull deformity.
- These findings support the safety of cochlear implantation regarding pediatric skull development.
Abstract:
We investigated the effects of long-term implantation of auditory prostheses on skull growth in young animals. Four monkeys were implanted with dummy cochlear implants at 6 months of age. To simulate implantation in children, the bed for the receiver-stimulator or interconnecting plug was drilled across a calvarial suture down to the underlying dura. Plain skull roentgenograms were periodically taken to monitor head growth for up to 3 years after implantation. These longitudinal measurements revealed no significant asymmetric skull growth. Postmortem measurements using computed tomographic scans confirmed these results and showed no significant difference in the intracranial volumes between the implanted and control sides of each animal or between experimental and nonimplanted control monkeys. These results suggest that long-term cochlear implantation in very young children will not cause any significant deformity of the skull.