How the world sees facial palsy patients

This paper from Australia gives an insightful perspective on the impact of facial paralysis on patients, and may explain the well-documented poor quality of life scores in this patient group, particularly those ‘successfully reconstructed’ with surgery. It explores how the...

A drug to prevent hearing loss caused by ototoxic therapeutics

This editorial briefly highlights the progress made in discovering a compound named ORC-13661, which shows the potential to alter the response of hair cells to ototoxic medication. In the late 1980s, inner hair cells that were lost secondary to noise...

Mobile apps for audiological screening

This article summarises the newly emerging mobile applications for audiological screening. The purpose is to try to reduce the time between individuals identifying a hearing problem and seeking help for it. These apps are gaining in popularity and recognition. The...

Supporting second language in bilingual children with cochlear implants

There have been mixed reports regarding the benefits of supporting two languages for bilingual children using cochlear implants. With an ever-increasing number of children with hearing loss undergoing cochlear implantation, this study provides timely clinical evidence. The authors studied the...

A rare superior tongue tie

The authors present a very rare case of ankyloglossia superior syndrome: first described in 1911 but with only 14 case reports in English literature it was of sufficient interest to discuss the aetiology, classification and management. As the palatal shelves...

Bad splits

This is a meta-analysis of reported risk factors of a ‘bad split’ in a sagittal split mandibular osteotomy. They identified 30 observational articles and therefore acknowledged it is based on low quality studies. It is compounded by the definition of...

Mirror image orbital implants in enopthalmus

This is a review from Chile of five patients who underwent surgery utilising customised implants. Two methods to make the titanium implants were used between the five patients. All patients had diplopia in the gaze position prior to implant placement....

Carnoy’s and the KOT

This is a retrospective review of 105 patients with keratocystic odontogenic tumours treated over a 23-year period with a mean follow up of 86 months. The recurrence rate was 11.4%. Permanent neuro-sensory deficit of the inferior alveolar nerve 16%. Younger...

Role of ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration in management of the neck after chemoradiotherapy

Primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a well-established treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, not every patient has a complete response to this treatment modality, necessitating eventual salvage neck dissection. Some patients with persistent adenopathy following...

Septal surgery made easy?

The injecting of the greater palatine canal has been documented for some time. The authors in this paper expand this to the more common procedure of the septoplasty. They summarise the pros and cons published regarding the technique in sinus...

A move away from bony free flaps in reconstruction

Techniques for facial reconstruction have come on in leaps and bounds since the world wars. The use of titanium implants is more recent and the technology for manipulating the metal and how we use it is rapidly developing. Here the...

A modification of the crescentic flap for nasal skin reconstruction

Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most frequent skin tumours and in over 25% of cases affect the nose. Following excision, the reconstruction may be challenging. Reconstruction aims to preserve the anatomical units, nasal functions and also an aesthetic final outcome....