School of Medicine and Health Sciences Poster Presentations
Cochlear Implant Symmetry via Template
Poster Number
169
Document Type
Poster
Status
Medical Student
Abstract Category
Clinical Specialties
Keywords
Cochlear implant, hearing loss, symmetry, template
Publication Date
Spring 2018
Abstract
In cases of severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), cochlear implantation (CI) restores the ability to process auditory signals and allows for verbal language acquisition. Along with advances in technology, modern CIs have a slimmer physical profile that allows for fixation using a direct subperiosteal pocket technique that obviates the need for drilling a bone well in the parieto-occipital cortex. With the overall trend in pediatric bilateral CI favoring the less invasive direct subperiosteal technique, we propose a reliable method using materials available in any operating room to achieve optimal, symmetric placement in real time. This "mirror template", developed by the Senior Author (BKR), employs a simple folding and tracing to allow precise, yet timely pocket placement on the right and left sides of the temporal bone. Our method exploits the thinner profile of the most recent receiver-stimulator (R/S) models, and may be safely and reliably performed in our youngest patients, including those under 12 months of age. Clinicians have a duty to optimize the aesthetic aspects of prosthetic devices; regarding cochlear implants, aesthetic considerations largely focus on R/S placement. Psychological analysis of the human perception of beauty shows that symmetry has a significant and independent input into the perception of beauty for both males and females. We reviewed 11 bilateral cochlear implantation cases performed by the Senior Author using the direct subperiosteal pocket technique with our proposed template. Excellent symmetry has been seen in all cases following the implementation of the "mirror template,” and has translated to high patient and family satisfaction regarding aesthetics and symmetry.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Open Access
1
Cochlear Implant Symmetry via Template
In cases of severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), cochlear implantation (CI) restores the ability to process auditory signals and allows for verbal language acquisition. Along with advances in technology, modern CIs have a slimmer physical profile that allows for fixation using a direct subperiosteal pocket technique that obviates the need for drilling a bone well in the parieto-occipital cortex. With the overall trend in pediatric bilateral CI favoring the less invasive direct subperiosteal technique, we propose a reliable method using materials available in any operating room to achieve optimal, symmetric placement in real time. This "mirror template", developed by the Senior Author (BKR), employs a simple folding and tracing to allow precise, yet timely pocket placement on the right and left sides of the temporal bone. Our method exploits the thinner profile of the most recent receiver-stimulator (R/S) models, and may be safely and reliably performed in our youngest patients, including those under 12 months of age. Clinicians have a duty to optimize the aesthetic aspects of prosthetic devices; regarding cochlear implants, aesthetic considerations largely focus on R/S placement. Psychological analysis of the human perception of beauty shows that symmetry has a significant and independent input into the perception of beauty for both males and females. We reviewed 11 bilateral cochlear implantation cases performed by the Senior Author using the direct subperiosteal pocket technique with our proposed template. Excellent symmetry has been seen in all cases following the implementation of the "mirror template,” and has translated to high patient and family satisfaction regarding aesthetics and symmetry.