Perioperative complications with the bone-anchored hearing aid.

OBJECTIVE

To discuss perioperative complications associated with the bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) and their management.

STUDY DESIGN AND

SETTING

A retrospective review of 58 patients who underwent implantation of BAHA for unilateral conductive, mixed, or sensorineural hearing losses was performed at a tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

Between September 2003 and June 2005, 58 patients underwent implantation of a BAHA. There were 30 female and 28 male patients, with a mean age of 48 years (range 8-80 years). Complications occurred in 19% (11/58) of patients. Most adverse events were seen early in the series. The most common complication, partial or complete loss of the skin graft, occurred in 10% (6/58) of patients. These were managed successfully with local wound care. Five percent (3/58) of patients had skin growth over the abutment. Two of these cases were managed with office debridement, whereas 1 patient required revision under general anesthesia. There was implant extrusion in 3% (2/58) of patients, and both of these patients later underwent successful reimplantation. All patients had their implant activated 3 months after surgery. There were no perioperative or postoperative deaths.

CONCLUSION

Complications related to BAHA implantation are relatively minor and usually involve partial or complete loss of the skin graft. Most complications were successfully managed in the office.