Long-term follow-up with the bone-anchored hearing aid: a review of the first 100 patients between 1977 and 1985.

Skin-penetrating implants have been used since 1977 for retention of Bone Anchored Hearing Aids, or BAHA. This paper analyzes the stability of the implants and the frequency of skin reactions in the first one hundred consecutive patients operated upon at Sahlgrens Hospital, Göteborg. The follow-up time varied between 8 and 16 years. Ninety percent of the implants were found to be stable. Five percent were explanted due to direct trauma. Another five percent lost integration but often after many years in use. Adverse skin reactions were seen, but 79% of the patients had no or one single episode of soft tissue reaction. A percutaneous coupling in the mastoid process will give rise to only minor clinical problems and could be considered as a simple, predictable and safe device.