Journal article
Robotic-Assisted Electrode Array Insertion Improves Stability of Acoustic Hearing Thresholds
The Laryngoscope, PMID 8607378
01/21/2026
DOI: 10.1002/lary.70380
PMID: 41562332
Abstract
Robotic-assisted electrode array (EA) insertion is a promising technique that may enhance preservation of residual acoustic hearing after cochlear implant (CI) surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of robotic-assisted EA insertion on rates of delayed-onset hearing loss (DOHL).
Sixty (Advanced Bionics [AB]: 30, MED-EL: 30) adult patients underwent CI surgery with manual EA insertion and 29 (AB: 13, MED-EL: 16) with robotic-assisted insertion using the iotaSOFT system. The primary outcome variable was longitudinal change in low frequency pure-tone average (LFPTA). DOHL was defined as a decrease in LFPTA of > 10 dB compared to previous best postoperative LFPTA.
Twenty-two (37%) out of the 60 subjects in the manual cohort and two (7%) out of the 29 subjects in the robotic-assisted cohort had DOHL over the entire length of available follow-up (p = 0.002, Fisher's exact test, two-tailed). When evaluating DOHL results for subjects who had LFPTA data at 12 months (±4 weeks) post initial activation, 11 (29%) out of the 38 (AB: 15, MED-EL: 23) subjects in the manual cohort and zero (0%) out of the 18 (AB: 8, MED-EL: 10) subjects in the robotic-assisted cohort had DOHL (p = 0.011, Fisher's exact test, two-tailed). The number needed to treat was 4.
Robotic-assisted EA insertion is associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in rates of DOHL. Preservation of residual acoustic hearing is a critical goal in CI surgery, and robotic-assisted EA insertion contributes towards achieving this goal.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Robotic-Assisted Electrode Array Insertion Improves Stability of Acoustic Hearing Thresholds
- Creators
- Uzair A Khan - Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City, Iowa, USARachel A Scheperle - University of IowaGrant Podhajsky - University of IowaMeggan J Lind - University of IowaCamille C Dunn - University of Iowa, OtolaryngologyAlexander D Claussen - University of IowaBruce J Gantz - University of IowaMarlan R Hansen - University of Iowa Health Care
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Laryngoscope, PMID 8607378
- DOI
- 10.1002/lary.70380
- PMID
- 41562332
- NLM abbreviation
- Laryngoscope
- ISSN
- 1531-4995
- eISSN
- 1531-4995
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- P50-DC000242 / NIDCD NIH HHS T32-DC000040 / NIDCD NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 01/21/2026
- Academic Unit
- Communication Sciences and Disorders; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9985130055802771
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