title: Intracochlear insertion of electrodes using hyaluronic acid in cochlear implant surgery.
abstract: Hyaluronic acid has been proposed as a lubricant for improving the outcome of cochlear implant surgery. We describe a method which includes coating the electrodes with a thin layer of hyaluronic acid as well as using a droplet of the lubricant on the cochleostomy to provide additional magnification, like a lens, that facilitates the insertion of the electrode array. The use of hyaluronic acid reduces trauma to the cochlea and avoids contaminating perilymph by blood or by saline used during the operation. It is an efficacious and reliable method for cochlear implant surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Freiburg, Germany. laszig@hno.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laszig
authors.forename: Gerd Jürgen
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ridder
authors.forename: Milo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fradis
mesh_terms: D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid