Active transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing implant: how I do it.

BACKGROUND

The Cochlear™ Osia® System leaves a retroauricular bump that can cause discomfort and poor aesthetic outcome.

METHOD: To reduce the retroauricular bump, we introduced an implant well in the bone behind the ear for the transducer. We used cutting and diamond drills to create the implant well with an average depth of 4-5 mm. The surgical time including the implant well (40 min) was within the range of reported average surgical time (52 min).

CONCLUSION

Introduction of an implant well resulted in a better aesthetic outcome and improved patients' comfort. The reduced distance between BI300 and ear canal might improve audiological outcome.