OBJECTIVES: To report 3 occurrences of incomplete electrode extraction during cochlear implant revision, resulting in partial intracochlear retention of an implant electrode array. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Three tertiary care academic medical centers. PATIENTS: Three patients with cochlear implant failure necessitating revision cochlear implantation. INTERVENTION: Diagnosis and surgical revision of failed cochlear implants. RESULTS: A rare intraoperative complication was encountered in 3 pediatric patients undergoing revision cochlear implantation. During attempted explantation of the indwelling electrode, the array fractured and resulted in intracochlear retention of a distal portion of the electrode. Each case was managed differently by the operative team. CONCLUSION: Incomplete electrode extraction is a rare but significant complication of revision cochlear implantation that is generally not anticipated when counseling patients and families. Preoperative discussion of this potential complication is appropriate.
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Kang et al. (2009) studied this question.
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