Re-implantation of the Rion E-type semi-implantable hearing aid: Status of long-term use and hearing outcomes in eight patients

• Published in: Auris, nasus, larynx Vol. 39; no. 6; pp. 572 - 576
• Main Authors: Komori, Masahiro, Yanagihara, Naoaki, Hinohira, Yasuyuki, Hato, Naohito, Gyo, Kiyofumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.12.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Bone Conduction; Female; Hearing; Hearing Aids; Hearing Tests; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Middle ear implant; Middle ear infection; Otolaryngology; Prostheses and Implants; Prosthesis Implantation - instrumentation; Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Reimplantation; Reoperation; Treatment Outcome; Middle ear infection; Reimplantation; Middle ear implant
• ISSN: 0385-8146; 1879-1476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2011.12.003

Abstract Objectives The Rion Ehime (E)-type implantable hearing aid (IHA) is the first middle ear implant. We implanted 39 IHAs into 39 patients, and found that the IHA functioned well for >15 years. So far, 28 IHAs have been removed because they stopped functioning. An IHA was re-implanted in 8 of the 28 cases. This study assessed the status of long-term use and hearing outcomes in the eight patients to confirm the safety and advantages of repeated implant operation. Methods Current status and operational findings of the eight re-implantees and hearing outcomes were investigated by reviewing the patients’ records. Results Four of the eight cases still use their devices; all four originally suffered from cholesteatoma. In the remaining four cases, the devices stopped functioning 2.4–9.4 years after re-implantation; they suffered from chronic otitis media. Preoperative air and bone conduction hearing and IHA hearing 3 months after the first implantation were 61.1 ± 13.1 dB, 40.6 ± 11.3 dB, and 26.9 ± 10.5 dB, respectively ( n = 8). At the time of removal, they were 59.4 ± 12.4 dB, 40.2 ± 14.2 dB, and 42.9 ± 14.9 dB, respectively. Three months after re-implantation, they were 60.4 ± 14.6 dB, 37.3 ± 14.7 dB, and 29.4 ± 13.4 dB, respectively. Conclusions Re-implantation of an IHA is beneficial and safe for patients. As the absence of active inflammation has a crucial effect on the period of use, re-implantation should be judged carefully after deterioration of the initial implant.