title: Salvaging the Exposed Cochlear Implant.
abstract: Cochlear implant exposure is an uncommon occurrence that may imperil the fate of the implant. Insertion of this costly device is a delicate procedure, and reimplantation with another implant after removal is expensive and emotionally stressful for patients. Salvage of the original implant can be quite successful with a fully vascularized scalp-nape of the neck rotation flap. The authors review the literature and report their experience in salvaging exposed implants in 2 patients, who had risk factors that compromised healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bommie Florence
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Suk-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Deuk Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rhie
mesh_terms: D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000637:transplantation; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology