Minimizing wound complications in cochlear implant surgery.
OBJECTIVE
An extended postauricular incision has replaced the standard C-shaped scalp flap for cochlear implant surgery at our institution. The postoperative wound complication rates of the two incisions were evaluated.


METHODS
This study was a retrospective case review.


METHODS
This study was performed in a tertiary referral center.


METHODS
A total of 256 adult and pediatric patients who underwent cochlear implantation during a 10-year period (1986 to 1996) were reviewed.


METHODS
Postoperative wound complications were identified. Major complications included flap necrosis, wound dehiscence with or without implant exposure, and wound infection requiring hospitalization. Hematoma, seroma, or superficial wound infections were considered minor complications.


RESULTS
There were 6 major and 6 minor complications among 116 patients with the standard scalp flap (complication rate, 10.3%). There was only 1 minor complication among 140 implants using the postauricular incision (0.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
The extended postauricular incision appears to significantly reduce the incidence of wound complications in cochlear implant surgery.
Telian
S A
SA
Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0312, USA.
El-Kashlan
H K
HK
Arts
H A
HA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003638:Deafness / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D012886:Skull / Q000637:transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000628:therapy*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000628:therapy*