Lateral Wall Versus Perimodiolar Electrodes for Hearing Preservation in Cochlear Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Otol NeurotolJun 1, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchOtolaryngology (ENT)
David H Elisha, Rahul Mittal, Arian Fesharaki et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated hearing preservation outcomes between lateral wall (LW) and perimodiolar (PM) cochlear implant electrodes. Analyzing 72 studies with 3783 ears, the overall pooled hearing preservation rate was 45.9% for LW electrodes compared to 34.2% for PM electrodes (P <0.000005).
Key findings
- The overall pooled hearing preservation rate was 45.9% for LW electrodes versus 34.2% for PM electrodes.
- In head-to-head comparisons, the pooled risk ratio favored LW arrays at RR=1.24 (0.99, 1.56), P=0.057.
- Excluding short-term studies, LW arrays showed significant superiority with RR=1.37 (1.06, 1.77), P=0.016.
Why it matters
Understanding the differences in hearing preservation rates between electrode types can guide clinicians in selecting the most appropriate cochlear implant for patients, potentially improving postoperative auditory outcomes.