Indications for and outcomes of mastoid obliteration in cochlear implantation

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review the indications, efficacy, and long-term outcomes of mastoid obliteration in cochlear implant surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Seventeen patients who underwent a mastoid obliteration procedure to facilitate the insertion of a cochlear implant between 1978 and 2005. INTERVENTION: Mastoid obliteration procedure before cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Revision rate of the mastoid obliteration and cochlear implantation, postoperative audiometric scores (consonant-nucleus-consonant words/phonemes, Central Institute for the Deaf sentences, City University New York sentences in quiet and in noise), and i..