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Distances between the cochlea and adjacent structures related to cochlear implant surgery

Distances entre la cochlée et les structures avoisinantes. Application aux implants cochléaires

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Summary

A sound knowledge of the topographic anatomy of the cochlea, especially of the distances between it and the adjacent structures, is essential for otosurgery in general, and in surgical procedures for cochlear implantation in particular. One hundred temporal bones of humans aged from one month to 71 years, of either sex, taken from both body sides (but not bilaterally) were studied by dissection under the operating microscope and exposing the cochlea and its neighbourhood. The minimal distances were measured between the cochlear turns and the internal carotid artery, the bulb of the jugular vein, the facial nerve and the floor of the internal actoustic meatus. It was found that in children aged up to 4 years most of the measured distances were significantly smaller than in older individuals. Only the minimal distance between the basal turn of the cochlea and the floor of the internal acoustic meatus was shorter in small children without statistical significance.

Résumé

Une bonne connaissance de l'anatomie topographique de la cochlée, spécialement celle des distances la séparant des structures environnantes, est d'une importance capitale en otochirurgie en général, et lors de la mise en place des implants cochléaires en particulier. Cent os temporaux provenant de cadavres humains âgés d'un mois à 71 ans, des deux sexes, prélevés des deux côtés du corps (mais non bilatéralement), ont été étudiés par dissection sous microscope opératoire exposant la cochlée et son environnement. Les distances minimales ont été mesurées entre les spires de la cochlée et les structures suivantes : artère carotide interne, bulbe de la veine jugulaire, nerf facial et plancher du méat acoustique interne. Chez les enfants âgés de 4 ans et moins, la plupart des distances mesurées étaient significativement plus petites que chez les autres individus. Seule la distance minimale entre la spire basale de la cochlée et le plancher du méat acoustique interne était plus courte chez les petits enfants, sans que cela soit statistiquement significatif.

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Wysocki, J., Skarzyñski, H. Distances between the cochlea and adjacent structures related to cochlear implant surgery. Surg Radiol Anat 20, 267–271 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628488

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628488

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