A Multinational Cost-Consequence Analysis of a Bone Conduction Hearing Implant System-A Randomized Trial of a Conventional vs. a Less Invasive Treatment With New Abutment Technology.

It is hypothesized that, for patients with hearing loss, surgically placing an implant/abutment combination whilst leaving the subcutaneous tissues intact will improve cosmetic and clinical results, increase quality of life (QoL) for the patient, and reduce medical costs. Here, incremental costs and consequences associated with soft tissue preservation surgery with a hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated abutment (test) were compared with the conventional approach, soft tissue reduction surgery with an all-titanium abutment (control). A cost-consequence analysis was performed based on data gathered over a period of 3 years in an open randomized (1:1) controlled trial (RCT) running in four European countries (The Netherlands, Spain, France, and Sweden).

Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery Versus the Linear Incision Technique With Soft Tissue Preservation for Bone Conduction Hearing Implants: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the surgical outcomes of the Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery (MIPS) technique with those of the linear incision technique with soft-tissue preservation for bone-anchored hearing systems (BAHS).

Design: Sponsor-initiated multicenter, open, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Maastricht University Medical Centre, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente and Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, all situated in The Netherlands.

A Mid-scala Cochlear Implant Electrode Design Achieves a Stable Post-surgical Position in the Cochlea of Patients Over Time-A Prospective Observational Study.

Introduction: Cochlear implant (CI) electrode design impacts the clinical performance of patients. Stability and the occurrence of electrode array migration, which is the postoperative movement of the electrode array, were investigated using a mid-scalar electrode array and postoperative image analysis.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted.

Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery compared to the linear incision technique without soft tissue reduction for bone conduction hearing implants: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Over the last years, less invasive surgical techniques with soft tissue preservation for bone conduction hearing implants (BCHI) have been introduced such as the linear incision technique combined with a punch. Results using this technique seem favorable in terms of rate of peri-abutment dermatitis (PAD), esthetics, and preservation of skin sensibility. Recently, a new standardized surgical technique for BCHI placement, the Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery (MIPS) technique has been developed by Oticon Medical AB (Askim, Sweden).

Auditory maturation in premature infants: a potential pitfall for early cochlear implantation.

Objectives/hypothesis: To describe spontaneous hearing improvement in the first years of life of a number of preterm neonates relative to cochlear implant candidacy.

Study Design: Retrospective case study.

Methods: Hearing levels of 14 preterm neonates (mean gestational age at birth = 29 weeks) referred after newborn hearing screening were evaluated.

Compensating for deviant middle ear pressure in otoacoustic emission measurements, data, and comparison to a middle ear model.

Objective: Deviant middle ear pressure has a negative effect on the forward and backward transmission of stimulus and emissions through the middle ear. Resolving this deviant middle ear pressure is expected to lead to better middle ear transmission and, as a result of this, stronger otoacoustic emissions, which are better detectable. We investigated the effect of compensation o a deviant tympanic peak pressure on click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs).

Bone-anchored hearing aid: a comparison of surgical techniques.

Objective: To determine which bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) implantation surgical technique is associated with the fewest major postoperative complications and shortest time between surgery and use of the BAHA. The techniques evaluated were 1) a free retroauricular "full-thickness" skin graft, 2) a pedicled parieto-occipital epidermal graft, 3) a dermatome-pedicled parieto-occipital dermal graft, and 4) two broad pedicled local epidermal skin envelopes/skin flaps.

Study Design: Retrospective case study.