Part 1 of 2

As a clinical audiologist, I am rarely awestruck by manufacturing claims; however, I encourage all audiologists in the field to take a moment to review Oticon Medical’s 10-Year Evidence Campaign.  I’ve provided a  brief summary of this two-part series below. Following this review, please reach out to your clinical specialist if you would like additional information or have any questions on the evidence  highlighted in these two blogs.

A Small Procedure with Huge Benefits – The Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery

When we think of a surgical procedure, I believe most of us envision cutting, sutures, pain and recovery. In fact, the implantation of a traditional bone anchored solution involves an incision, sutures, thinning of the soft tissue and a slower healing process. And like traditional bone anchored solutions, Oticon Medical also followed this path 10 years ago, until the introduction of the minimally invasive Ponto surgery (MIPS) procedure. This procedure has revolutionized the industry by offering patients a less-invasive approach to better hearing with a Ponto™ device. The MIPS technique is a suture-free procedure with a unique approach to tissue preservation that is completed in minutes. It is truly minimally invasive because the soft tissue excised exactly matches the shape of the percutaneous abutment. All preparations for the implant installation are done through this circular incision, eliminating the need for sutures and thinning of the soft tissue. Utilizing tailor-made surgical components, 80% of US surgeons have gravitated to this new procedure offering their patients a simple, safe and easy surgery with huge benefits.

The clinical evidence gathered over the past 10 years supports the benefits of the MIPS procedure  Recent studies suggest that 98% of patients report an improvement in their quality of life after Ponto surgery. The reported improvement is greater than for middle ear implants, and almost as significant as for cochlear implants (Hendry et al., 2016). Additional studies highlighting the features and benefits of the surgical aspects of the Ponto System can be accessed through the link.

Designed for Simple, Easy Care

A topic professionals often counsel patients on during the candidacy process is what type of aftercare is necessary following placement of the implant. Many candidates are reluctant to take that next step towards surgery because of aftercare concerns with regard to the abutment.

In an effort to improve tissue preservation, Oticon Medical has refined the model of the Ponto abutment utilizing a unique OptiFit™ design– offering a straight neck and perfect match to the soft tissue. Because of this design, the Ponto abutment family is a proven skin-friendly concept. What’s more, in 95% of follow-up visits, no skin-related aftercare treatment was required based on systematic literature review reporting on ten years of experience with the Ponto System (Lagerkvist et al, 2020). This indicates that six out of seven patients will not need treatment due to a skin reaction. As a professional, you could then expect less than one follow-up visit in 20 would require the need to take action when using Ponto abutments and the modern surgical technique. These outcomes are representative of what any patient choosing to undergo a Ponto surgery can expect.

New for our family of Ponto recipients is the Ponto Care app. This tool, specifically designed during social distancing times, provides your patients with an Aftercare section allowing them to access relevant information about everyday life with the Ponto, including user guides, instructional videos and a diary. More importantly, the Aftercare section allows recipients to monitor their implant site to ensure proper care is taken should an issue with the healing process occur. The app provides recipients with the ability to photograph their implant site documenting any changes that may occur over time. These photos can be shared or discussed with their healthcare provider should an issue arise during their recovery process, thus empowering patients and enabling simple, easy device care.

Stay tuned as next month we will continue with our 10-Year Evidence Campaign by reviewing the studies focused on Proven Hearing Excellence. 

References:

Hendry J, Chin A, Swan IR, Akeroyd MA, Browning GG.  The Glasgow Benefit Inventory: a systematic review of the use and value of an otorhinolaryngological generic patient-recorded outcome measure. Clin Otolaryngol. 2016; 41(3):259-75.

Lagerkvist, H, et al. (2020). Ten years’ experience with the Ponto bone anchored hearing system – a systematic literature review (under review).

About the Author

Carissa Moeggenberg is an audiologist who has worked in the hearing healthcare field for the past 28 years. She is presently the training manager for Oticon Medical.