Results of EAS performed in Japan using long electrodes: a multicenter retrospective survey
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) has become an established treatment option for patients with high-frequency hearing loss. In Japan, all FLEX electrodes were approved for EAS in August 2023, resulting in increased use of longer electrodes. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the impact of this approval on patient selection and electrode choice for EAS and compared hearing preservation outcomes between longer electrodes and FLEX24. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 68 EAS cases (80 ears) treated at 27 centers in Japan from August 2023 to October 2025 and compared the findings with those from 55 EAS cases using FLEX24 in a post-marketing survey conducted at 20 centers between 2014 and 2016. RESULTS: Preoperative hearing thresholds and age at implantation were comparable between the two surveys. Longer electrodes (FLEX26, FLEX28, or FLEX soft) were used in 68 of 80 ears (85%) in the present survey. Patients implanted with FLEX28 showed slightly poorer hearing preservation than those implanted with FLEX24; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Sufficient residual hearing was preserved even with longer electrodes. These findings support the increasing use of longer electrodes for EAS to provide adequate cochlear coverage while accommodating potential future deterioration in hearing.
Source: Acta Oto-Laryngologica
Authors: Shin-ichi Usami, Shin-ya Nishio, Hidekane Yoshimura, Yutaka Takumi, Kenichi Takano, Shinichi Goto, Chikako Shinkawa, Seiichi Kadowaki, Han Matsuda, Ryohei Akiyoshi, Masaomi Motegi, Masahiro Takahashi, Hajime Koyama, Nobuhiro Nishiyama, Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Yasuhiro Arai, Koichiro Wasano, Shuji Izumi, Hiroshi Nakanishi, Tadao Yoshida, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Tadashi Nishimura, Yoshiyuki Ozono, Yuki Koda, Norio Yamamoto, Riu Nishimura, Takashi Ishino, Kazuma Sugahara, Masato Teraoka, Teppei Noda, Akira Sasaki, Hiroaki Sato, Satoshi Iwasaki, Hidehiko Takeda, Akinori Kashio, Atsushi Kawano, Masayuki Furukawa, Hajime Sano, Michiro Fujisaka, Takechiyo Yamada, Juichi Ito, Katsumi Doi, Masaya Konishi, Takema Sakoda, Shin Kariya, Minoru Hara
Institutions: Shinshu University, Sapporo Medical University, Hirosaki University, Yamagata University, University of Tsukuba, Saitama Medical University, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Gunma University, Mita Hospital, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo Medical University, Institute of Science Tokyo, Yokohama City University, Tokai University, Niigata University, Hamamatsu University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Nara Medical University, The University of Osaka, Osaka Metropolitan University, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Hyogo Medical University, Hiroshima University, Yamaguchi University, Ehime University, Kyushu University, Iwate Medical University, Toranomon Hospital, Juntendo University, Kitasato University, University of Toyama, University of Fukui, Shiga General Hospital, Kindai University, Kansai Medical University, Rinku General Medical Center, Okayama University, Nagasaki University
Language: English
Topic: Ear Surgery and Otitis Media
Subfield: Otorhinolaryngology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225039671