Bone-anchored hearing aid abutment skin overgrowth reduction with clobetasol.
OBJECTIVE
The bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) osseointegrated cochlear stimulator can treat hearing loss in a variety of clinical situations. Occasionally skin/scar overgrowth may cover the abutment. This overgrowth interferes with affixing the BAHA to the abutment. Surgical scar revision/excision has been used to treat this problem. Clobetasol (0.05%), a steroid gel, can reduce skin overgrowth. Experience with skin overgrowth and the efficacy of clobetasol to treat this problem was reviewed.


METHODS
The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent BAHA abutment implantation from January 2003 through December 2006.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight patients (2 patients received bilateral BAHAs) were reviewed. Twenty (22%) of 90 sites developed overgrowth. Thirteen of 20 sites were treated with clobetasol. The overgrowth resolved in 11 (85%) of 13 sites after treatment. Patients with incomplete skin graft survival were significantly more likely to develop skin overgrowth (P = 0.0017).


CONCLUSIONS
Clobetasol is an effective treatment for abutment skin/scar overgrowth. Clobetasol allows patients to resume BAHA use and obviates the need for scar revision.
Falcone
Michael T
MT
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37221, USA. michael.falcone@vanderbilt.edu
Kaylie
David M
DM
Labadie
Robert F
RF
Haynes
David S
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005782:Gels; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D002990:Clobetasol