The Bonebridge system – Our clinical experience /Case report/

Introduction: Bone conduction implants are a standard treatment option for patients with conductive or mixed, hearing loss. The Bonebridge system was introduced by MED-EL in 2012, and two years after its debut, it was used in more than 200 centers worldwide (6). For the first time the Bonebridge system was implanted in Bulgaria in 2015 by associated professor P. Rouev. The main audiological criteria for placement is conductive hearing loss, which is caused by atresia of the auditory canal or diseases of the middle ear with preserved bone conduction (below 45 dB), as well as unilateral hearing loss above 70 dB (contralateral hearing loss not more than 20 dB). The system does not penetrate the skin and consists of an internal part - an implant, which is placed completely under the skin, and an external part - a processor. The acoustic signal from the environment is transformed into mechanical vibrations that are transmitted to the mastoid bone. The expected results are an improved hearing threshold and better hearing in noisy environments. Methods: Our clinical experience with the Bonebridge system is based on three operated patients aged between 56 and 73 years. All three patients had evidence of bilateral conductive hearing loss. Here we present one of these cases. Results: Test results showed significant improvement in hearing sensitivity especially in frequencies round 1000 Hz. Conclusions: Bone conduction implants such as the Bonebridge system are an excellent treatment option for patients with bilateral conductive deafness. Bonebridge has good hearing results, relative simplicity, and low rate of complications. Experience has shown that the Bonebridge system is easy to use and highly reliable. The use of Bonebridge conduction implant system leads to a significant improvement in the quality of life.