Objective: To determine the occurrence and type of perioperative and postoperative complications in patients implanted with an osseointegrated hearing device (OHD) (also known as BAHA/BAHS) and compare results in children, adults, and elderly and for different surgical techniques.
Study design: Retrospective case file review.
Setting: Tertiary referral center.
Patients: Patients implanted with an OHD between 2004 and 2012, with more than 6 months of follow-up.
Intervention: OHD implantation.
Main outcome measures: Implant loss, adverse skin reactions (Holgers' score, ≥2), skin overgrowth, and discomfort resulting in abutment and/or implant removal.
Results: One hundred eighty-five implantations in 176 patients were reviewed. Overall, 3.8% of the implants were lost spontaneously after a mean of 2.5 years. Implant loss in children was 18% versus 2.5% in adults and 3.8% in elderly. Adverse skin reactions occurred in 14% of observations overall; in 10% in children compared with 16% in adults and 9% in elderly. Partial or total skin overgrowth was seen in 4% and 6% of the observations in children and adults, respectively, whereas none of the elderly experienced this problem. The abutment was removed because of discomfort and/or no benefit in 10% overall, in 13% of adults, and in 6% of the elderly; none of the children opted for removal. Linear incision technique showed fewest complications.
Conclusion: OHD implantation is a procedure with few major complications. Adverse skin reaction is the most common complication. Children lose the implant more frequently than adults. Elderly patients have less adverse skin reactions/skin overgrowth. Discomfort leading to abutment removal is a concern especially among adults.