ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: lilya on December 03, 2013, 08:22:59 am
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Hello,
does anybody did BAHA abutment removal surgery ? Please help
After BAHA surgery two years ago I realized I don't need Baha. My Baha site never heal, never wear processor. And it seems worse recently. I always want to have my abutment removed.
A local surgeon I saw told me : After abutment removed,, he will not cover anything to that hole(wound). the "hole"---I mean the void place where the abutment used to be. no bandage, no protective cup...etc. He will only apply antibiotic ointment. I'm concerned the void(wound) get dust on the way from his clinic office to my home. But he insisted the antibiotic ointment will protect the void wound.
Could anybody tell me do you remember if your surgeon covered the hole or not ? or do you know other patients or what other surgeons do to that wound void?
Lily
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Had mine removed a little over a year ago I think. Was having problems with infections and the analog receiver. No problems now. The posts have not grown over yet, some day I wish they would. I am going by the term abutment is the screw from the processor to the implant.
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I have no issues with my BAHA - either the processor (Cochlear BP100) or my implant site, so I don't have firsthand experience in "removal".
But from what I know from conversations with my neurotologist (did my AN surgery and my BAHA implant surgery), it's normal procedure to unscrew the abutment from the top of the titanium rod (sunk into the skull) and then just let the skin grow over it.
Unscrewing of the abutment can be done in the office; it only takes a screwdriver. Some docs might want to do it as an outpatient procedure though; since some docs don't think their office is sterile enough.
Normally no dressing, cap, etc., is placed over the "wound". Antibiotic ointment - bacitracin, neosporin, polysporin, etc., - is usually recommended to promote healing and prevent infection.
Jan
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Paul~
Yes. (google image: BAHA abutment)
BAHA = processor + abutment + implant
I recently saw some worse cases on BAHA support forum. Even new skin grew over fast and smoothly (in a couple days), got weeping and infection on the BAHA site after 18 month abutment removal.
My concern is after abutment removed, implant will be exposed , implant could get Polluted before new skin grow over it completely. I feel this "pollution" maybe the cause of future Infection after abutment removed and infection even after new skin grow over it completely.
Do you remember after your abutment removal surgery, if your surgeon didn't cover anything onto your wound, how you got home ? Wouldn't dust adhere onto the wound on the way home ?
Did you shampoo the next day ?
Now Your skin doesn't grow over the implant completely or your skin doesn't grow over the implant at all ?
I'm worrying.
Lily