title: External auditory canal closure in cochlear implant surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate surgical techniques and complications associated with external auditory canal (EAC) closure in cochlear implant surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center with a large cochlear implant program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients (8 adults and 20 children) underwent multichannel cochlear implantation with EAC closure. The follow-up periods ranged between 1 and 10 years. Closure of the EAC was performed in conjunction with implantation of ears with chronic suppurative otitis media or cochlear drill-out procedures for ossification, or for access to the cochlea in patients with abnormal temporal bone anatomy. A modified Rambo technique was used for EAC closure in all but one case.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cochlear implantation with EAC closure and subsequent clinical and radiologic follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postoperative complications or the development of cholesteatoma in the implanted ear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cholesteatoma developed in the implanted ear in two patients. Breakdown of EAC closure occurred in one of these patients. The details of these patients are reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Closure of EAC can be done with relatively low risk. Close and careful follow-up is required for early detection of a developing cholesteatoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. hussam@umich.edu
authors.forename: Hussam K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: El-Kashlan
authors.forename: H Alexander
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Arts
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Telian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003051:Cochlea / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000601:surgery; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed