Background:

Percutaneous bone conduction implants are an alternative to alleviate unilateral transmission, mixed and neurosensory hearing loss in patients unable to carry conventional hearing aids. Through this study we analyzed the indications of the osseointegrated systems in the Lozano Blesa Hospital (Zaragoza, Spain), among other aspects.

Method:

An observational study was carried out based on medical records, including patients who had been implanted with a percutaneous osseointegrated system since 2010. The collected data included demographic information, clinical and analytical data concerning his hearing loss and post-implant complications, among others.

Results:

59 percutaneous implants were analyzed; 44.1% Baha type and 55.9% Ponto type. Regarding the audiological indication of the implant, mixed hearing loss was the most frequent cause (64,40%). The most frequent clinical diagnosis was chronic otitis media (83%). The functional hearing gain of the implanted patients due to transmission hearing loss was 26,92 ± 7,65 dB. The most used surgical technique was the U flap carried out in 42.40% patients. It has been observed a tendency between the relationship in the number of complications and the fact of performing a reduction of subcutaneous tissue surrounding the implant (p = 0,051).

Discussion and conclusions:

Although no significant differences were found, the demographic results, as well as the indication of implantation, functional gain and complications are similar to the data found in the medical literature. However, future studies with a larger number of patients would be convenient.

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