Transcutaneous Baha Attract system: Long-term outcomes of the French multicenter study.

BACKGROUND

Bone conduction implants based on abutment-driven acoustic transmission result in good hearing outcomes; however, skin complications impact the quality of life (QOL) and possibly the viability of the device for many patients. The transcutaneous magnetic Baha Attract technology was developed with the goal of minimising skin complications.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse surgical, auditory and QOL outcomes for patients implanted with the Baha Attract.

DESIGN

Prospective multicentre cohort study.

SETTING

Four French tertiary referral centres.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-two patients implanted with the Baha Attract, including 25 with conductive and mixed hearing loss and 7 with single-sided deafness.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative follow-up involved the visual analysis of soft tissue adaptation and sound processor magnet strength measurement. The audiometric outcomes were evaluated in quiet and noise, and the QOL was assessed using three different questionnaires.

RESULTS

After 12 months of use, soft tissue was thinner, and mean magnet strength was significantly decreased (3.7-3.1, P < 0.05) relative to measures during surgery. The speech recognition threshold in quiet significantly improved compared to unaided situation (73-44 dB HL respectively, P < 0.001) as did functional gain in noise (+2.8). All QOL scores improved, and the APHAB questionnaire score correlated with the audiometric outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The Baha Attract technology results in significant hearing gain and improves QOL. Skin complications were not observed, although surgeons, audiologists and patients should be aware of soft tissue evolution during the first postoperative year. The reversibility of this implant is a major advantage that allows switching to another system if hearing degrades.