title: Osseointegrated hearing implant surgery: outcomes using a minimal soft tissue removal technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) To report on the results and complications arising from using a minimal tissue removal procedure for the placement of an osseointegrated hearing implant. (2) To comment on the advantages and disadvantages for this technique compared to current standard techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with chart review; 2008-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive patients undergoing osseointegrated hearing implant surgery with a minimal tissue removal technique were reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A small incision (1.5 cm) with little to no soft tissue (fat only) removal with good skin to periosteum fixation after placement of implant and abutment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one adults were assessed (aged 18-86, range of follow-up 3-45 months). No patients experienced hair loss, significant numbness, cosmetic defects, or intraoperative or audiologic complications. Eight patients required some combination of antibiotic ointment, steroid ointment, and/or oral antibiotic for mild erythema around the abutment, and 3 patients required soft tissue revision. Five children under the age of 18 were also assessed. One of these patients required soft tissue revision in the operating room and 1 required removal of the implant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated comparable outcomes to other surgical techniques with less cosmetic and other associated complaints. This study indicates that a less invasive approach for the surgical implantation of the osseointegrated auditory implant may have merit.
authors: Cleveland Clinic Foundation-Head and Neck Institute, Cleveland, Ohio 44201, USA.
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Hawley
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Haberkamp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000009:adverse effects; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult