In-office Bone-Anchored Hearing Implants via Minimally Invasive Punch Technique in a Veteran Population

OBJECTIVE: Describe the feasibility and safety of completing bone-anchored hearing implants via the minimally invasive punch technique in the in-office setting. STUDY DESIGN: This single-institution case series included 20 patients who underwent in-office bone-anchored hearing implant placement under local anesthesia from 2018 to 2021. SETTING: Veterans Affairs Northern California Healthcare System. METHODS: Following completion of the case series, patients were retrospectively surveyed regarding their satisfaction with this approach via a modified SSQ-8 (Surgical Satisfaction Questionnaire) to fit our purposes. RESULTS: A total of 23 implants were completed in the in-office setting on 20 patients. Intra- and postoperative complication rates, including skin changes, irritation, infection, and poor wound healing, were similar to or better than currently published complication rates in the literature. In addition, patients reported overwhelmingly positive responses on the SSQ-8, almost universally stating that they were “very satisfied” with their clinic experience. CONCLUSION: This case series suggests that it is feasible and safe to complete this procedure in the clinic under local anesthesia, but further prospective studies are needed to evaluate this in a more generalized population.