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Loos E, Stultiens JJA, Volpe B, Vermorken BL, Van Boxel SCJ, Devocht EMJ, van Hoof M, Postma AA, Guinand N, Pérez-Fornos A, Van Rompaey V, Denys S, Desloovere C, Verhaert N, van de Berg R. Optimizing vestibular implant electrode positioning using fluoroscopy and intraoperative CT imaging. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024:10.1007/s00405-023-08428-5. [PMID: 38180608 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08428-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Vestibular implant electrode positioning close to the afferent nerve fibers is considered to be key for effective and selective electrical stimulation. However, accurate positioning of vestibular implant electrodes inside the semicircular canal ampullae is challenging due to the inability to visualize the target during the surgical procedure. This study investigates the accuracy of a new surgical protocol with real-time fluoroscopy and intraoperative CT imaging, which facilitates electrode positioning during vestibular implant surgery. METHODS Single-center case-controlled cohort study with a historic control group at a tertiary referral center. Patients were implanted with a vestibulocochlear implant, using a combination of intraoperative fluoroscopy and cone beam CT imaging. The control group consisted of five patients who were previously implanted with the former implant prototype, without the use of intraoperative imaging. Electrode positioning was analyzed postoperatively with a high-resolution CT scan using 3D slicer software. The result was defined as accurate if the electrode position was within 1.5 mm of the center of the ampulla. RESULTS With the new imaging protocol, all electrodes could be positioned within a 1.5 mm range of the center of the ampulla. The accuracy was significantly higher in the study group with intraoperative imaging (21/21 electrodes) compared to the control group without intraoperative imaging (10/15 electrodes), (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION The combined use of intraoperative fluoroscopy and CT imaging during vestibular implantation can improve the accuracy of electrode positioning. This might lead to better vestibular implant performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Loos
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ExpORL), KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joost J A Stultiens
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin Volpe
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd L Vermorken
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Stan C J Van Boxel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Elke M J Devocht
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marc van Hoof
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Alinda A Postma
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Nils Guinand
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Angelica Pérez-Fornos
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Van Rompaey
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Sam Denys
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ExpORL), KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christian Desloovere
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ExpORL), KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Verhaert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ExpORL), KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Raymond van de Berg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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