Measuring the electrically evoked stapedius reflex threshold (eSRT) with electromyography (EMG) of the stapedius muscle (SM) may offer an objective approach for cochlear implant (CI) fitting. During unilateral CI surgery in 14 adult patients with single-sided deafness, a retrofacial or anterior approach were used to evaluate the feasibility of SM-EMG during acoustically and electrically elicited stapedius reflex...
Intraoperative EMG of the stapedius muscle via a retrofacial approach may provide a reliable objective measure for cochlear implant fitting threshold estimation, but results from this prospective bicentric study should be replicated in larger trials before changing standard fitting protocols.
Objective, intraoperative tools for cochlear implant fitting could reduce the burden of post-surgical mapping sessions and improve outcomes, especially in patients—such as young children or cognitively impaired adults—who cannot provide reliable behavioral feedback.
- 01Prospective bicentric design evaluated EMG of the stapedius muscle via a retrofacial surgical approach during CI surgery.
- 02The electrically evoked stapedius reflex (ESRT) threshold was used as an objective fitting landmark for cochlear implants.
- 03Retrofacial EMG access may offer a more direct and reliable recording site compared to conventional methods.
- 04Objective intraoperative fitting measures could reduce post-operative mapping visits and benefit non-verbal patients.
- 05Published in a peer-reviewed journal (Scientific Reports, Nature portfolio); DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-53093-3.
EMG of the stapedius muscle via a retrofacial approach can be used to measure the electrically evoked stapedius reflex threshold during cochlear implant surgery.
studypartially supportedThe electrically evoked stapedius reflex threshold serves as an objective cochlear implant fitting tool.
studypartially supportedThe retrofacial approach provides viable surgical access for intraoperative stapedius EMG recording.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42129433
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-026-53093-3.
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Patients undergoing cochlear implant surgery across two centres
- Intervention
- Intraoperative electromyography of the stapedius muscle via a retrofacial approach to record electrically evoked stapedius reflex threshold
Primary outcomes
Electrically evoked stapedius reflex (ESRT) threshold measured intraoperatively via retrofacial EMG; Feasibility and reliability of the retrofacial approach for stapedius EMG during cochlear implant surgery