The evaluation of a surgery and the short-term benefits of a new active bone conduction hearing implant - the Osia®

Abstract Introduction Modern medicine offers a wide spectrum of different hearing devices, and bone conduction implants can be found among them. Objective The presentation of the outcomes of the implantation of a new active bone conduction hearing implant - the Osia®, and its comparison with the well-known passive transcutaneous system - the Baha® Attract. Methods Eight adult patients with bilateral mixed hearing loss were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was implanted with the Osia®, and group 2 was implanted with the Baha® Attract. The details of the surgery were analyzed, along with the functional and audiological results. Results In all the cases, the surgery was successful, and the healing uneventful. In both groups, it was observed that pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry in free field improved significantly after the implantation (mean gain in pure tone audiometry for the Osia group 42.8 dB SPL and for the Baha group 38.8 dB SPL). In the Osia group, the results after the surgery were much better than with the Baha® 5 Power processor on the Softband. The patients implanted with the Osia® evaluated the quality of their hearing as being superior to those implanted with the Baha® Attract. There was an evident improvement in the abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit questionnaire and in the speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale for both systems. In the abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit, changes were more evident in the Osia group (in global score 49% vs. 37.2%). Conclusion Implantation of the Osia® is an effective treatment option for the patients with bilateral mixed hearing loss. The surgery is safe but more complex and time-consuming than the Baha® Attract implantation. The preliminary audiological results as well as the overall quality of life indicate that the Osia® is a better solution than the Baha® Attract. However, future studies should be carried out to make further observations in a larger group of patients, and with longer follow-up.摘要 引言：现代医学可提供多样化的听力辅助设备，骨传导植入物（bone conduction implants）便是其中一类。 研究目的：本研究旨在报道新型有源骨传导听力植入物Osia®的植入效果，并将其与成熟的无源经皮系统Baha® Attract进行对比。 研究方法：纳入8例双侧混合性听力损失（bilateral mixed hearing loss）的成年患者，按随机原则分为两组。第1组接受Osia®植入手术，第2组接受Baha® Attract植入手术。本研究对手术细节、术后功能及听力学结果进行了分析。 研究结果：所有患者手术均顺利完成，术后愈合平稳无并发症。两组患者术后的纯音测听（pure tone audiometry）与自由声场言语测听（speech audiometry in free field）结果均较术前显著改善：Osia组纯音测听平均增益为42.8 dB声压级（SPL），Baha组为38.8 dB SPL。Osia组术后效果优于佩戴Baha® 5 Power处理器软带的患者。与接受Baha® Attract植入的患者相比，Osia®植入患者对自身听力质量的评价更高。两种系统的助听器获益简表（abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit questionnaire）以及言语、空间与听力质量量表（speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale）评分均有明显提升。在助听器获益简表中，Osia组的评分变化更为显著（总体评分提升49% vs. 37.2%）。 研究结论：Osia®植入术是治疗双侧混合性听力损失患者的有效方案。该手术安全性良好，但相较Baha® Attract植入术更为复杂且耗时更长。初步听力学结果与整体生活质量评估均显示，Osia®的临床效果优于Baha® Attract。但未来仍需开展更大样本量、更长随访周期的研究以进一步验证其疗效。