The Impact of Subtotal Petrosectomy in Cochlea Implantation

INTRODUCTION Cochlear Implantation (CI) in patients with chronic otitis media or existing open mastoid cavity can be challenging. Subtotal petrosectomy (STP) is an option to improve the safety of this procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective study with cases of STP prior CI. RESULTS 25 patients could be enrolled in this investigation. Over all 26 STP were performed approximately 6 months before CI. The majority of the patients suffered from a chronic otitis media or had a preexisting open cavity; in one case a complex temporal bone fracture with destruction of the external auditory canal was the reason for this technique. After STP we observed three times a delayed wound healing at the closure of the external auditory meatus and a bleeding at the periumbilical region after harvesting fat of the abdominal wall. All patients could be provided with a CI. A recurrence of a cholesteatoma did not appear so far. CONCLUSION With this method CI is feasible even in cases of concurrent chronic otitis media or canal wall down situation. We are in favour of a staged procedure, nevertheless a simultaneous STP and CI is justifiable in individual patients.