Audiologic and surgical outcomes of a novel, nonpercutaneous, bone conducting hearing implant.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the selection criteria, surgical technique, audiologic, and quality of life outcomes for a novel, nonpercutaneous bone conductor hearing aid.


METHODS
Retrospective case review.


METHODS
Secondary otology practice.


METHODS
Eighteen patients (16 adults and 2 children).


METHODS
Implantation of unilateral (n = 16) or bilateral (n = 2) devices.


METHODS
Mean preoperative and postoperative air conduction and bone conduction free-field testing, BKB-SIN aided and unaided at 0-degree 70 dB SPL, Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ), aided and unaided measures of localization and discrimination in single-sided deafness (SSD), surgical complications.


RESULTS
Implants have been fixed under general or local anesthesia without perioperative complications. Two patients noted minor skin irritation only. Audiologic gain was greatest for those with bilateral conductive loss (21.9 ± 10.4 dB HL). For those with bilateral and unilateral mixed loss, gain was 6.2 ± 5.3 dB HL and 5.5 ± 6.5 dB HL, respectively. A greater improvement was seen with BKB-SIN at 70 dB SPL at 0 with all groups except for SSD, gaining statistically significant benefit. Localization and discrimination studies in patients with SSD or unilateral conductive loss failed to detect benefit from aiding. SSQ scores show an improvement in all domains for each patient group.


CONCLUSIONS
The surgical procedure requires no specialized equipment and can be performed as a day case. This device complements treatment for patients requiring bone conduction aids and presents as an alternative to conventional percutaneous bone-anchored implants.
Department of Otolaryngology, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Deborah Claire
DC
Sylvester
Robert
R
Gardner
Peter Gerard
PG
Reilly
Kathryn
K
Rankin
Christopher Howard
CH
Raine
D000328:Adult; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000601:surgery*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D053441:Suture Anchors; D016896:Treatment Outcome