Electrode tip fold-over (TFO) represents a complication of cochlear implantation. TFO may lead to insertion trauma and malfunction of the cochlear implant (CI), often requiring re-implantation. It is mostly associated with pre-shaped CI electrodes.
✦ The floor
Discussion
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Surgeons performing paediatric cochlear implantation should be aware of tip fold-over as a real complication risk; findings may inform insertion technique refinements, but specific practice changes depend on the full study results.
Electrode tip fold-over is a rare but serious surgical complication in paediatric cochlear implantation, and population-level data from a cohort of 300+ children provides actionable insight into incidence, risk factors, and device outcomes.
- 01Cohort of >300 paediatric cochlear implant recipients studied for electrode tip fold-over complications.
- 02Tip fold-over can cause insertion trauma and may lead to device malfunction.
- 03Paediatric anatomy makes this population particularly relevant for understanding complication risk.
- 04Findings could inform surgical technique and pre-operative planning in children.
- 05Published in a peer-reviewed journal indexed on PubMed (DOI: 10.1080/14670100.2026.2686528).
Electrode tip fold-over is an identifiable complication in paediatric cochlear implant surgery occurring in a cohort of over 300 recipients.
studysupportedTip fold-over is associated with insertion trauma and device malfunction.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42515857
- DOI
- 10.1080/14670100.2026.2686528.
- Journal
- Cochlear Implants International
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Sample size
- 300
- Population
- Paediatric cochlear implant recipients
- Intervention
- Cochlear implant electrode insertion (examining tip fold-over complication)
Primary outcomes
Incidence of electrode tip fold-over; Insertion trauma severity; Device malfunction rate