Bone-anchored hearing aids: incidence and management of postoperative complications.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of complications associated with implantation of the bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) and the management of these complications.


METHODS
Retrospective case review.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
One hundred forty-nine consecutive patients between October 25, 2001, and June 29, 2005, underwent implantation of a BAHA. The majority of patients had unilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss after removal of an acoustic neuroma or skull base tumor (59.1%) with the next most common etiology of deafness secondary to sudden sensorineural hearing loss (16.1%).


METHODS
Implantation of a BAHA.


METHODS
Incidence of complications occurring after implantation of a BAHA.


RESULTS
There were no intraoperative or perioperative complications. Significant postoperative complications requiring intervention occurred in 19 (12.8%) patients. Skin overgrowing the abutment occurred in 11 (7.4%) patients, and 10 of these patients required revision in the operating room. Skin overgrowth was a late complication, occurring an average of 12 months after the initial procedure. Implant extrusion occurred in 5 (3.4%) patients, with 3 requiring revision surgery. Two patients elected not to have the device reimplanted. Two patients had local wound infections requiring oral antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant complications are uncommon after implantation of a BAHA; however, these complications may require local wound care, antibiotics, or revision surgery.
House
John W
JW
House Clinic, Los Angeles, California, USA. JHouse@hei.org
Kutz
Joe Walter
JW
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology