Which approach is better for the protection of vestibular receptors in cochlear implant surgery: Round window or standard cochleostomy?

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to compare electrode insertion techniques in cochlear implantation CI as the standard cochleostomy approach SCA versus the round window approach RWA on five vestibular end-organ functions and vertigo in the pre- and postoperative period. Patients and Methods: In total, 51 patients 22 males, 29 females; mean age 38.2 years; range 16 to 70 years with normal vestibular function and operated with single-sided CI were included in this study between January 2015 and December 2019. Of the patients, 30 were operated with the RWA and 21 with the SCA. All of the patients were evaluated with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory DHI and a complete vestibular test battery including the video head impulse test vHIT , cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential cVEMP , and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential oVEMP at one week preoperatively and one month postoperatively. Results: Patients in the RWA group had a statistically significantly better protected vestibular functions and fewer subjective vertigo symptoms in the postoperative period p