Complications after BAHA Implantation

Overview

Complications associated with BAHA implantation may occur during the surgery, but also in the postoperative period of healing. The complications during surgery are rare and can be easily managed. They include strong bleeding form skin, muscles and emissary veins. Sigmoid sinus and dura mater can be exposed, but their damage is rare. Complications occurring in the postoperative period are distinguished into osseointegration (sc. osseous) ones, and complications in healing of soft tissues. Early osseous complications originate as a consequence of erroneous osseointegration, whereas late osseous complications resulting from disintegration due to trauma or inflammation. The complications of soft tissue healing include skin reddening, wound weeping, formation of granulation tissue, skin overgrowth below the graft and partial or total necrosis of the lobe. Most complications can be manages by intensive conservative therapy, surgical treatment is required mostly in patients with overgrowth of tissue below bone anchor.

There were no perioperative complications in our group. In the postoperative period one patient suffered from a bad osseointegration, six patients experienced prolonged and complicated healing and in two of them surgical intervention became necessary. A standard healing occurred in the other 80% of patients. The selection of patients, adherence to operation technique and correct postoperative care significantly decrease the risk of development of complications.

Keywords:
BAHA, bone vibrator anchored in the skull, complications in hearing rehabilitation