Value of routine plain x-ray position checks after cochlear implantation.

Objective: To analyze the value of a routine x-ray position check after cochlear implantation and to assess if an increased resistance during electrode insertion is a sufficient predictor of electrode misplacement.

Study Design: Retrospective data collection.

Setting: University hospital.

Methods: Plain x-rays (Stenvers' projection) and the respective surgery reports of 218 patients having received cochlear implantation (243 ears) were analyzed for possible electrode misplacements and intraoperative conspicuities during electrode insertion.

Results: Electrode misplacement (tip-over, loop, kinking, scalar transition, and incomplete insertion) was observed in 8% of the entire study cohort, but only in 5% if cases with inner ear dysplasia or labyrinthine ossification (n = 28) were excluded from analysis. Intraoperatively, an increased resistance during electrode insertion was found in 16% but only in 8% when cases with inner ear dysplasia or labyrinthine ossification were excluded. The intraoperative finding of an increased resistance during electrode insertion had a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of 88% for predicting radiographically confirmed electrode misplacements (positive predictive value, 29%; negative predicting value, 96%).

Conclusion: Nearly half of the cases of electrode misplacement would have been overlooked if radiographic position checks would have been done only in patients with intraoperative conspicuities during electrode insertion. This finding advocates routine radiographic position checks, although electrode misplacements are relatively rare in patients with regular inner ear anatomy.