BAHA stability measurement in children
Reviewed by Patrick Spielmann

This useful paper reports the experience of using resonance frequency analysis for single stage bone-conduction implants in a paediatric population. A smartpegTM is attached to the abutment and vibrated by a close quarters magnetic field. The amount of vibration is converted into an implant stability quotient (ISQ) score. The ISQ was produced for each implant at time of surgery and at follow-up intervals. The mean stability scores were good enough to accept loading on the day of surgery with marginal improvements thereafter (at four weeks and 16 weeks). This has encouraged the authors to accelerate the loading of paediatric patients to a median of six weeks (range 1-16 weeks). With improved implant design and better understanding of osseointegration the loading times are inevitably being reduced, which has to be a good thing… 

Resonance frequency analysis of osseo-integrated implants for bone conduction in a pediatric population – a novel approach for assessing stability for early loading.
McLarnon C, Johnson I, Davison T, et al.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY
2014;78:641-44.