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Three-Year Follow-Up with the Bone Conduction Implant
Ann-Charlotte Persson1,2, Sabine Reinfeldt3, Bo Håkansson3
1Region Västra Götaland, Habilitation & Health, Hearing Organization, Gothenburg, Sweden, ann-charlotte.l.persson@vgregion.se.
Audiology & Neuro-Otology
|April 9, 2020
Summary
The bone conduction implant (BCI) offers significant hearing improvements for patients, with stable results and positive subjective experiences over three years. This active transcutaneous device demonstrates long-term efficacy and safety.
Area of Science:
- Audiology and Hearing Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- The bone conduction implant (BCI) is an active transcutaneous device with direct bone contact and intact skin.
- Initial implantation in sixteen patients with a planned 5-year follow-up.
- This study focuses on 10 patients with up to 36 months of follow-up data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the hearing ability, quality of life, and objective measures of the BCI.
- To compare BCI performance against an unaided situation and a soft band device.
- To assess the long-term stability and safety of the BCI system.
Main Methods:
- Repeated audiological assessments (sound field thresholds, speech recognition in quiet and noise) at multiple time points up to 36 months.
- Quality of life questionnaires to evaluate patient-reported benefits and situational appreciation.
- Objective measures included nasal sound pressure for implant functionality and retention force of the audio processor.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in audiometry and quality of life were observed with the BCI compared to the unaided condition.
- No significant difference in performance was found between the BCI and the Ponto Pro Power on a soft band.
- Stable implant functionality and minimal, consistent force on the skin were recorded throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- The BCI effectively enhances hearing for tones and speech perception in quiet and noise.
- Patient-reported outcomes are positive, indicating a beneficial user experience with the BCI.
- The BCI demonstrates stable transducer performance, bone contact, and skin integrity over 3 years.
