title: The new Nucleus 5 model cochlear implant: a new surgical technique and early clinical results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Nucleus 5 or CI500 series cochlear implants are the new generation of Nucleus(®) cochlear implants. The receiver-stimulator package has a low profile without a pedestal projecting from the medial surface. This study aimed to demonstrate that the new design can facilitate a minimally invasive surgical approach, without the need for tie-down sutures and without a seat drilled for the receiver-stimulator package.
  
  
  METHODS
  The surgical technique involved placing the device directly on the surface of the bone in a secure sub-periosteal pocket with a channel drilled for the lead. A well or ramped seat was not drilled and tie-down sutures were not used. Measurements were taken from the transmitting coil to the tragus and the coil to the lobule immediately after implantation, and serially thereafter to document implant position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To date, over 200 implants have been performed with the Nucleus 5 device. In all cases, healing was uneventful without major complications. Of 137 patients with at least 6-week follow-up data, 8% showed a measurement change of greater than 1 cm whereas only 4.4% demonstrated any clinically evident movement. None had any complications relating to migration and none required repositioning of the device.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new design can safely be inserted without drilling a well for the receiver-stimulator package. Some early post-operative movement of the package was observed which caused no clinical impact. This modified surgical technique reduces the risk of intracranial complications and reduces operating time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Australia. pmonksfield@talk21.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monksfield
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Husseman
authors.forename: Robert S C
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Robert J S
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Briggs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult