Policlinico di Bari performs first ABI implant in Southern Italy

An 18-year-old woman has regained the ability to perceive sound following a specialized surgical procedure at the Policlinico di Bari in Italy. The patient suffers from neurofibromatosis type 2, a rare genetic condition that causes benign tumors in the nervous system. In her case, the disease led to total hearing loss in the right ear and progressive loss in the left.

During an eight-hour operation led by neurosurgery and otorhinolaryngology teams, surgeons completely removed a benign tumor originating from the vestibular nerve. They then implanted an Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI). This device is distinct from a cochlear implant because it bypasses the auditory nerve, instead using an electrode array placed directly on the surface of the brainstem to stimulate auditory centers.

This marks the first use of an ABI in Southern Italy. The surgical team successfully preserved the facial nerve during the procedure. Following the implantation, the patient has begun to perceive sounds through the use of an external processor and specialized software.