Comparison of electrode position between round window and cochleostomy inserting approaches among young children: a cone-beam computed tomography study

AbstractBackground: As the two most commonly used approaches for cochlear implants (CIs), the round-window insertion (RWI) and cochleostomy are still controversial about which approach is optimal. The lack of visual observation methods makes it difficult to compare the electrode position between them.Objectives: To evaluate and compare the electrode position between RWI and cochleostomy approaches for CI among young children.Materials and methods: Twenty-four patients (16 male, 8 female) accepting CI and temporal cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan post-operation in our hospital from January 2016 to July 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Operative notes and images were used to identify the surgical technique. Mainly depending on the round-window exposure, 15 cochleae were performed with RWI and 11 performed with cochleostomy.Results: Mean age, 2.4 (range 0.8–7) years. The CBCT images showed that all the electrode arrays were located in scala tympani. There were no significantly statistical differe...