Prospective evaluation of intraoperative cochlear implant radiographs

Objective: To investigate the clinical utility of intraoperative plain radiographs in cochlear implant surgery. Study Design: Prospective. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Eighty consecutive adult and pediatric cochlear implant operations at a facility capable of intraoperative radiographs were evaluated over 12 months. Interventions: Intraoperative plain radiographs to assess implant location and surgeon questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: Plain radiographic image interpretation and surgeon questionnaire. Results: In one revision surgery, the intraoperative plain radiograph was useful for confirming the cochleostomy site. In the remaining 79 operations, no changes in the electrode arrays were made on the basis of the information provided by intraoperative plain radiographs. Conclusions: In this cohort, intraoperative plain radiographs were not useful for uncomplicated implant operations; however, they may be useful for complicated operations. These results may have implications for surgical cost and patient radiation exposure.