Safety and Efficacy of Implantation of the Bonebridge Active Transcutaneous Bone-Conduction Device Using Implant Lifts

Background Implant lifts were recently introduced to facilitate implantation of the Bonebridge and to reduce the risk of uncovering the sigmoid sinus and/or dura. Purpose The current study analyzed medical, technical, and audiological outcomes of implantation with the Bonebridge implant using lifts. Research Design This was a retrospective study on all consecutive patients implanted with a bone-conduction hearing implant at a tertiary medical referral center between March 2012 and October 2018. Outcome measures were complications, explantations, and revisions and the mean time of implant use. Audiological results were assessed as well. Outcomes were evaluated for devices implanted with BCI Lifts and compared with those implanted without lifts. Results In the study period, 13 out of a total of 54 implantations were conducted using one or two 1- to 4-mm BCI Lifts. During the follow-up period, two complications occurred and both in patients implanted without lifts (2/41; 4.9%). All patients in the lifts group were using the implant at the end of observation period. No statistically significant difference was observed in functional hearing gain or word-recognition improvement at 65dB between two groups. Conclusions The use of BCI Lifts in Bonebridge implantations was not associated with adverse events during the observation period. The clinical follow-up revealed no complications in implantations requiring lifts. Furthermore, the functional hearing gain and the word-recognition improvement did not differ from those of devices implanted without lifts. Data indicate safety and efficacy for Bonebridge implantations using lifts.