The time thought necessary for sufficient osseointegration to occur to enable use of a BAHA has reduced from months to a few weeks. This paper further reduces this timescale to two weeks in patients with healthy bone and soft tissue (excluding diabetes, radiotherapy etc). The implant tested was a Cochlear BIA300 with a 4mm implant and 9mm abutment. Forty-nine patients (mean age 61 years), were randomised to either dermatome and soft tissue reduction technique, or the newer linear incision with no soft tissue reduction. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) was measured every few days up to a month and then at various points up to one year. The results revealed no difference in ISQ between the surgical methods of implantation. Early loading of the implant at two weeks did not lead to any implant losses or any significant change in ISQ. It is important to note that this study only provides safety data on the particular implant used on patients with healthy bone.
BAHA loading two weeks after implant insertion
Reviewed by Anand Kasbekar
Successful loading of a bone-anchored hearing implant at two weeks after surgery: randomised trial of two surgical methods and detailed stability measurements.
CONTRIBUTOR
Anand Kasbekar
BMedSci, DOHNS, FRCS (ORL-HNS), DM, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust; Associate, The University of Nottingham; Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK.
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