Monitoring of fixture osteointegration after BAHA® implantation.

The osteointegration phase of BAHA(®) fixture was assessed via electrical impedance spectroscopy in BAHA(®) implantees. Measurements were carried out by using a prototype device and were correlated with previously published histological data obtained at certain times after surgery, i.e. 1-2 days, 1 week, 1 and 3 months. Module variations of impedance spectra were found to be in agreement with the different pathophysiological conditions of bone ingrowth. The proposed methodology has shown to be promisingly reliable to properly monitor BAHA fixture osteointegration.