Craniofacial osseointegration.

In year 2007, 30 years have elapsed since the first patient was supplied with a craniofacial osseointegrated implant. The reason for implanting in this patient was a severe conductive hearing loss, which necessitated the use of a bone conduction hearing aid. By utilizing the possibility to transmit sound to the cochlea via direct bone conduction, a new era in audiology was established. Further applications of osseointegration in the craniofacial field is related to the rehabilitation of patients with defects from cancer therapy, malformations, traumatic amputations and burns. Specific fields of osseointegration in this respect are due to possible side effects from radiotherapy and chemotherapy that will affect osseointegration negatively. Other aspects are related to osseointegration in children. This review will focus on the knowledge gained during the first 30 years of craniofacial osseointegration.