Bone conduction implants in Australia over two decades

Bone conduction hearing implants were introduced in the late 1970s and have since undergone multiple iterations in mechanical and electronic design, as well as surgical requirements. While there have been reports of hearing outcomes and complications, limited population-level data exist. This study examined the number of bone conduction implant (BCI) procedures in Australia over 20 years (July 2004 to June 2024), exploring age, sex and temporal factors.

Procedural data were obtained from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The number of procedures was categorised by year, age group, sex, and adjusted for the population.

There were a total of 4536 BCI implants over the 20-year period, and 118 BCI explants during the last five reporting periods. There was a gradual increase in BCI procedures from 2004 to 2005, peaking at 434 procedures in 2016-2017, followed by a slow decline to 2022-2023, with a noticeable dip in 2021-2022, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. The 60-79 year age group underwent the highest number of procedures across all periods investigated, followed by the 40-59 year age group. Minimal sex differences were observed between males and females; however, overall, females aged 40-59 years had more BCI procedures than males of the same age group.

This study provides valuable insights into BCI procedures in Australia, supporting future healthcare planning and policy development.