title: Traumatic wound breakdown following baha™ implant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To highlight the importance of recognizing and managing severe peri-operative and post-operative soft tissue complications of baha™ osseointegrated implants. To discuss a patient with severe post-traumatic peri-operative and post-operative scalp complications following baha™ surgery, including management options.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report and literature review of post-operative soft tissue complications of baha™ osseointegrated implants. METHODS (CASE SUMMARY): A patient presented with a severe right sided mixed hearing loss and was treated with a baha™ osseointegrated implant. Post-operatively, the patient suffered trauma to the site and developed a severe traumatic wound infection, with complete dehiscence of the split thickness skin graft. The patient was treated with oral antibiotics and meticulous, aggressive local wound care. Operative management was considered but not implemented. Full healing with ability to use the device successfully was achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient healed completely and did not require revision surgery. He now has serviceable hearing after benefiting from the baha™ implant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although post-operative complications following baha™ surgery are infrequent and commonly mild, the surgeon will rarely be encountered by a severe soft tissue complication as described. Aggressive local wound care included culture-guided antibiotic therapy is indicated prior to performing revision surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sambur
authors.forename: Sujana S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chandrasekhar
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Govindaraj
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D006310:Hearing Aids; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000628:therapy*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*