A cochlear implant electrode arrangement is described. An electrode lead is connected to an implantable stimulator and contains electrode wires for carrying stimulation signals from the implantable stimulator. An electrode array penetrates through a cochleostomy opening into a patient cochlea for immersion in cochlear fluid within the cochlea. The electrode array has electrode contacts for delivering the stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. A cochleostomy ground contact at the cochleostomy opening separates the electrode lead and the electrode array and provides a return current path for the stimulation signals. There may also be a stimulator ground contact on an outer surface of the implantable stimulator that provides a second return current path for the stimulation signals.
