Observational study of bone-anchored hearing aid infection rates using different post-operative dressings.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Avoidance of infection at the implant site is a crucial element to the success of bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) implantation. However, little evidence exists to suggest the best post-operative wound dressing to use.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

We report our experience with 160 consecutive BAHA patients, using four types of post-operative BAHA wound dressing (Tri-adcortyl, Mepitel, Allevyn, and Acticoat 7 with Allevyn). Patients were reviewed at week one and week two post-operatively. Infection was defined as a positive wound swab culture or evidence of cellulitis at the BAHA site.

RESULTS:

Post-operative BAHA infection rates were 16 per cent, 50 per cent, 10 per cent and 5 per cent, for each of the four dressings respectively, and the mean number of additional visits to wound care clinic were 1.5, 3.7, one and 0.4, respectively.

DISCUSSION:

Acticoat 7 with Allevyn produced the lowest infection rate and thus became the dressing of choice for our BAHA programme.

• Authors: J Doshi, Y Karagama, D Buckley, I Johnson
• Journal: The Journal of laryngology and otology (J Laryngol Otol) Vol. 120 Issue 10 Pg. 842-4 (Oct 2006) ISSN: 1748-5460 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 16709268 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Acticoat
• Drug Combinations
• Gramicidin, Neomycin Sulfate, Nystatin, Triamcinolone Acetonide Drug Combination
• Polyesters
• Polyethylenes
• Polyurethanes
• Silicones
• allevyn
• mepitel
• Nystatin
• Gramicidin
• Triamcinolone Acetonide
• Neomycin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Gramicidin (therapeutic use)
• Hearing Aids (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Infection Control (standards)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neomycin (therapeutic use)
• Nystatin (therapeutic use)
• Occlusive Dressings (standards)
• Polyesters (therapeutic use)
• Polyethylenes (therapeutic use)
• Polyurethanes (therapeutic use)
• Postoperative Period
• Prostheses and Implants (adverse effects)
• Prosthesis-Related Infections (prevention & control)
• Silicones (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Triamcinolone Acetonide (therapeutic use)