Bone-Anchored Hearing Device Placement with Translabyrinthine Tumor Removal

Abstract

Objective

Translabyrinthine resection of intracranial tumors results in single-sided deafness, which can be treated by surgical and nonsurgical means. Here we describe the first series examining complication and device usage rates among patients receiving a surgically implanted bone-anchored hearing device (BAHD) at the time of translabyrinthine tumor removal.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Private tertiary neurotologic referral center.

Patients

Patients (N = 154) undergoing concurrent BAHD placement and translabyrinthine tumor resection.

Intervention

Concurrent BAHD placement and translabyrinthine tumor removal.

Main Outcome Measures

Postoperative complication rates and BAHD usage.

Results

Of the 154 patients, 121 (78.6%) had no device-related complications. The most common device-related complications were skin overgrowth (8.4%), acute infection (5.2%), and chronic infection (3.2%). The overall and specific complication rates did not differ from published BAHD complication rates. One patient (0.6%) developed a cerebrospinal leak through the surgical site for the device. At the time of last follow-up (mean, 39.8 months), 151 patients (95.0%) were still using their devices.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing concurrent translabyrinthine tumor removal and BAHD placement exhibit similar device-related complication profiles as patients undergoing standard device placement. Based on these outcomes and the high long-term usage rates, BAHD insertion at the time of translabyrinthine intracranial surgery can be considered a safe and useful procedure.