Implantation of bone-anchored hearing device using a three-dimensional template in a child

BackgroundImplantation of bone-anchored hearing devices is performed to improve hearing in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media who cannot wear a conventional hearing aid. The surgical procedure can be safely performed in children aged over five years.Case reportA 15-year-old patient with bilateral chronic suppurative otitis media and conductive hearing loss underwent the procedure to implant a bone-anchored hearing device but was found to have skull thickness of less than 2.5 mm and the procedure was abandoned. A computed tomography scan of the skull was undertaken and a three-dimensional template was reconstructed to identify appropriate thickness of the skull to implant the abutment during a second procedure.ConclusionBone-anchored hearing devices can be implanted by prior imaging and using a template to identify the area of appropriate skull thickness to implant the abutment safely.