OBJECTIVE:

In the standard technique of cochlear implantation, the internal receiver-stimulator (IRS) is fixed into a socket drilled on the calvarial bone. In the subperiosteal technique, the IRS is fixed under the subperiosteal plane, and drilling is not necessary. The purpose of this study was to compare the subperiosteal and the standard techniques.

STUDY DESIGN:

Retrospective clinical study.

SETTING:

Tertiary referral center; cochlear implant program.

PATIENTS:

One hundred forty-eight patients who underwent cochlear implantation.

INTERVENTION:

The researcher who evaluated the patients was not informed which of the 2 techniques was used on the patients and administered a visual analog scale (VAS) analysis. The duration of the operation, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and migration of the IRS were assessed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

A VAS survey was administered to the patients or to their parents to evaluate the practicability of the implant.

RESULTS:

The duration of the operation was 73.4 ± 17.8 minutes in the subperiosteal group and 105.5 ± 17.8 minutes in the standard technique group. The difference was statistically significant. Intracranial complications or migration of the IRS was also not observed in any patient. The VAS score was 4.2 ± 2.1 in the standard group and 4.3 ± 1.9 in the subperiosteal group. The difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION:

The subperiosteal technique can be safely and effectively used in cochlear implantation. Not only are there no intracranial complications and no migration of IRS was observed but also the mean operation time is reduced up to 30% and none of the patients have reported difficulty with fixing of the external device.