Ethnic Disparity in Skin Complications following Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid Implantation

Abstract

Skin complications can delay processor loading following implantation of a bone-anchored hearing aid. There is a higher rate of major skin-site complications in African American patients, and these often delay processor loading. The risk of skin-site complications is not correlated with smoking, diabetes mellitus, or immunosuppression. An increased risk of skin-site complications is an important consideration for preoperative counseling.

Initial experience of a rapid-insertion bone-anchored hearing system: series of 20 consecutive implants

“…Skin complications occur with greater frequency in people of African origin, though there appears to be no correlation with diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression or tobacco usage. 12 Initial skin problems may be reduced by utilising a linear incision rather than a split skin graft. 13 The feasibility of early loading protocols for a variety of bone-conducting hearing aids appears to be increasing, with new wider implant designs and less invasive surgical procedures.…”

Outcomes and complications of osseointegrated hearing aids in irradiated temporal bones

“…Zeitler et al found that African-American patients exhibited a significantly higher rate of major skin-site complications compared to other racial/ethnic groups. 12 We report only two instances of implant extrusion, both in temporal bones that had been irradiated prior to OIHA placement. Our extrusion rate of 10.5% was comparable to the incidence of 1.6% to 17.4% reported by Kiringoda and Lustig.…”

“…Furthermore, our results showed only one major complication in the nonirradiated group, which consisted of a soft tissue reaction necessitating surgical excision in the only African‐American patient in our cohort. Zeitler et al found that African‐American patients exhibited a significantly higher rate of major skin‐site complications compared to other racial/ethnic groups …”

Long-term Results of 185 Consecutive Osseointegrated Hearing Device Implantations

“…Dun et al (17) found a lower implant survival in patients with mental retardation. Zeitler et al (18) compared ethnic disparity in skin complications and had no implant losses and found no relation between diabetes mellitus, long-term immunosuppression, or tobacco use and skin complications. In our cohort, however, patients with significant comorbidity did have a propensity to implant loss.…”