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An alternate approach for surgical dressing of bone-anchored hearing aid abutment sites
Michael T Falcone1, Robert F Labadie
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Objective:
To present an alternative surgical dressing for bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) abutment sites, comparing it with the manufacturer's recommended "healing cap" in terms of split thickness skin graft (STSG) survival.
Study Design And Setting:
A retrospective review of 30 patients who underwent unilateral BAHA implantation at a tertiary referral center. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the surgical dressing for the BAHA abutment site. Group 1 had a "healing cap" dressing, and group 2 had a bolster dressing. STSG survival was evaluated.
Results:
Between May 2002 and July 2006, 30 patients underwent BAHA implantation. Seven patients received the "healing cap" dressing, and 23 patients received the bolster dressing. There was 100% STSG survival in the bolster dressing group and 71% skin graft survival in the healing cap group (P = .048).
Conclusion:
A traditional bolster dressing had improved STSG survival as compared with the manufacturer's recommended "healing cap." Additional benefits of a bolster are that it is maintenance free, well suited for noncompliant patients, and inexpensive.
