Successful implantation of an active transcutaneous bone conduction implant system in children under 5 years

Introduction The Bonebridge system is a transcutaneous bone conduction implant system for patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss. Younger children with a lesser bone thickness were previously mainly treated with a percutaneous osseointegrated bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) or a middle-ear implant. While the BAHA with its percutaneous screw increases the risk of implant infections or involvement of the implant in head trauma, middle-ear implant surgery involves manipulation of the ossicles with possible risk of surgical trauma and implant displacement. These complications can be omitted with transcutaneous bone conduction implant systems. The second generation of the Bonebridge (BCI 602) features a decreased thickness of the floating mass trancducer with reduced drilling depth and can thus be implanted in younger children.

Methodology In this study, N=3 patients under 5 years were unilaterally implanted with the second generation of the Bonebridge. All patients had unilateral aural atresia and no other malformations. Preoperative Workup comprised a CT scan, a MRI scan, pure tone audiometry, and a BERA (bone conduction, air conduction). Because children under 5 years often have a low bone thickness, a CT was performed to measure bone thickness and to determine the consistency of the temporal bone using the Otoplan software for optimal localization of the implant.

Results All patients were successfully implanted. No severe adverse effects were observed. All showed a good postoperative hearing performance with a mean word recognition score of 73  ± 25 % at 65 dB SPL.

Conclusion With adequate preoperative workup, this device can be safely implanted in children under 5 years with a beneficial postoperative audiological outcome and without adverse effects.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022