Detection of Translocation of Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays by Intracochlear Impedance Measurements.
Yu Dong, Jeroen J Briaire, Michael Siebrecht and 2 others
PMID 33974777WHAT IT FOUND
Intraoperative access resistance measurements identified cochlear implant translocations with 91% accuracy, outperforming standard electrode impedance.
Unlike impedance, access resistance also pinpointed the specific location of the translocation. This allows immediate detection without CT scans.
Key findings
01Access resistance detected translocations with 91% accuracy compared to 83% for electrode impedance.
02Only access resistance measurements significantly correlated with the CT-confirmed location of the translocation.
03The method works immediately after insertion without requiring a postoperative CT scan.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only looked at one specific type of electrode array, so results may not apply to other brands or models. False positives occurred, meaning some patients were flagged as having a translocation when they did not, likely due to tissue or blood contact during insertion. The method was tested immediately post-surgery; accuracy may drop if used later due to healing processes like fibrosis.
Declared interests
The first author's PhD was supported by the China Scholarship Council. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this method can fix a translocation. The study notes that by the time detection occurs, the damage is done, and retracting the electrode is not advised. The benefit is diagnostic feedback, not therapeutic correction.