Peri-operative cerebrospinal fluid leak during single-stage bone-anchored hearing aid implantation: case report.
BACKGROUND
A bone-anchored hearing aid uses the principle of bone conduction and osseointegration to transfer sound vibrations to a functioning inner ear. It consists of a permanent titanium implant, and removable abutment and sound processor. Informed consent requires discussion of the procedural benefits, alternatives and complications. The risks of bone-anchored hearing aid surgery include infection, soft tissue hypertrophy, skin graft or flap failure, osseointegration failure, and the need for further surgery.


METHODS
A case of cerebrospinal fluid leak in a patient undergoing bone-anchored hearing aid surgery is reported and discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Bone-anchored hearing aid surgery poses a risk of breaching the inner table of the temporal bone and dura, resulting in a cerebrospinal fluid leak; the risk of meningitis is rare but serious. The surgeon should discuss the possibility of cerebrospinal fluid leak when consenting patients. Pre-operative computerised tomography scanning should be considered in certain individuals to aid implant placement.
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Russells Hall Hospital,Dudley,UK.
G
G
Dimbleby
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Russells Hall Hospital,Dudley,UK.
A
A
Mitchell-Innes
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Russells Hall Hospital,Dudley,UK.
J
J
Murphy
D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059035:Perioperative Period; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards