Masking the protrusion of the receiver-stimulator of electronic implants in otology

Protrusion of the receiver-stimulator of a cochlear implant or a piezoelectric implantable hearing aid (IHA) was masked using bone dust applied in the gap between the receiver and the surrounding bone, making a smooth transitional border. The bone dust was then fixed with fibrin glue. Bone pâté (a mixture of bone dust and fibrin glue) was also used to fix the lead wire of a cochlear implant at the region of the posterior tympanotomy and to fasten an IHA vibrator holder to the temporal bone. Over the past two years, the use of these techniques in six patients with cochlear implants and two patients with IHAs has resulted in gratifying results; the edge of the receiver remained flush in all cases. They have been free from problems such as infection of the wound, necrosis of the overlying skin, and protrusion or migration of the receiver.