Alignment between the basal turn of the cochlea and the horizontal segment of the petrous carotid artery: a landmark for predicting round window accessibility in cochlear implant patients

Introduction:

Cochlear implant surgery is a well established procedure for enhancing the communication and quality of life in the patients with profoundly compromised hearing. The surgery is challenging because of the fine anatomical details in a narrow field of surgery and risk of injuring many vital structures.

aiming at Studying the alignment between the basal turn of the cochlea and the horizontal segment of the petrous internal carotid artery and its reliability in predicting round window accessibility in cochlear implant patients.

Methods:

Comparing the radiological and surgical findings in fifty patients of the Cochlear Implant Program (CIP) in a tertiary cochlear implant center who underwent CI surgery within the period from January 2015 to January, 2016.

Results:

There was strong correlation between the imaging findings as regard alignment between the basal turn of the cochlea and the petrous carotid artery and the intraoperative orientation and accessibility of the round window.

Conclusion:

Preoperative imaging before CI surgery is important, particularly when done according to ideal standards. Studying the alignment between the basal turn of the cochlea and the horizontal segment of the petrous carotid canal is a reliable method for predicting the intraoperative orientation of the round window.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)