Alternative techniques in cochlear implant surgery: Subtotal petrosectomy

Am J Otolaryngol. 2020 Jan-Feb;41(1):102338. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2019.102338. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

Abstract

Objectives: To report and analyze three cases of subtotal petrosectomy (SP) in cochlear implant surgery at our institution, and establish the indications, surgical technique and complications encountered.

Materials and method: A retrospective descriptive study is proposed, analyzing a series of three clinical cases of subtotal petrosectomy as surgical technique for cochlear implant surgery at San Ignacio University Hospital (Bogotá, Colombia) from year 2004 to 2019.

Results: A total of three cases of subtotal petrosectomy as surgical technique in cochlear implant candidates were analyzed. The indications were the presence of a wide mastoid cavity after canal wall down mastoidectomy, extrusion of the electrode into the external auditory canal with a wide mastoid cavity and erosion of the posterior wall of the ear canal, and the presence of cholesteatoma in a cophotic ear with previous surgery. The ear canal was defunctionalized in all three cases; in two of them with obliteration of the Eustachian tube and in none of the cases the mastoid was obliterated. There was a single complication associated with the procedure corresponding to a small retention cholesteatoma in the skin of the obliterated duct sac, that didn't required surgical intervention.

Conclusion: Subtotal petrosectomy is a surgical alternative for cochlear implant surgery in patients with chronic ear pathology, wide cavities or cochlear implant extrusion, not associated to significant complications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aged
  • Cochlear Implantation / methods*
  • Hearing Loss / etiology
  • Hearing Loss / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Petrous Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Petrous Bone / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed