Poznań doctors implanted a middle ear hearing device in a patient
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Unique middle ear implant surgery was conducted on April 10 by doctors from the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery of Poznań University of Medical Sciences. After the procedure, the 63 years old patient will hear despite progressive hearing loss earlier.
Middle ear implant is used when the external hearing aid is insufficient, and the implantation of a cochlear implant, or inner ear prosthesis, is considered too aggressive.
"The device is surgically implanted in the skull bone to strengthen the activity of ossicles. This results in a better conduction of sound, than an external hearing aid" - said the head of the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery of Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Prof. Witold Szyfter.
The device was implanted in a 63 years old patient from Koszalin, who had been gradually losing hearing for 15 years. Hearing loss was so severe that even the use of two hearing aids did not allow the man to function normally.
The operation took about four hours, and preparations took a month. Surgeons practiced the procedure on special bone preparations. The device was introduced into the middle ear, where it was attached to the so-called round window that separates the middle ear from the inner ear. The implant directly stimulates the hair cells.
Prof. Szyfter said that so far three similar operations had been performed in Poland, and the use of the implant was a novelty in Europe. "There is a possibility of financing the implant by the National Health Fund. These operations will become increasingly popular in Europe, because more institutions want to refund the cost of the device" - he added.
The implant previously cost approx. 100 thousand zlotys. A new device recently introduced to the market costs three times less - the patient from Koszalin received this implant.
"I am confident that we will now performed such operations more often. Our society is aging, and one of the consequences is the occurrence of a number of ailments, including the weakening of the auditory system. Hearing aid is not always enough. Now we have another tool that can help patients" - the doctor noted.
This was the first middle ear implant surgery performed at the Poznań clinic.
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