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Risk factors for post laryngectomy fistula

This is a meta-analysis looking at the postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula rates following total laryngectomy. The authors ended up with 34 studies with about 2500 patients. The most striking finding was that preoperative radiotherapy was a significant risk factor as well...

Transverse venous sinus stenosis – a risk factor for CSF leak in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension

This was a multicentre (six French tertiary hospitals) retrospective case-controlled study aiming to investigate the rate of transverse venous sinus stenosis (TVSS) in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with nasal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. They compared the preoperative MRI...

A classification of a new cell - the retrosphenoid cell

This is a concise paper which describes a previously undefined type of cell within the sphenoethmoidal complex. It identifies the retrosphenoid cell, differentiated from an Onodi cell by being entirely within the posterior wall of the sphenoid sinus, lying between...

Preoperative tumour embolisation

This review article analyses the role of preoperative endovascular tumour embolisation in the treatment of a variety of hypervascular head and neck lesions including juvenile nasal angiofibroma, glomus tumour, carotid body tumours, and meningioma. Although the concept of tumour embolisation...

Bone bridge conduction device for patients with bilateral microtia-atresia.

Management of microtia-atresia requires a multidisciplinary approach. Children normally require bone conduction hearing aid devices very early in life to improve and facilitate speech and language development. At a later stage, when the cranial bones have strengthened and become thicker,...

Double layer graft in endoscopic tympanoplasty

This Turkish retrospective study looked at the success rates following endoscopic tympanoplasty using the double layer graft technique. This involves using a tragal cartilage and perichondrium composite graft and a separate perichondrial graft for closure of the perforation. The crescent...

Revision stapes surgery

Few centres have much experience of revision stapes surgery, so it was interesting to read about the findings of this Turkish centre with regards to the causes and outcomes for revision otosclerosis surgery over a 16-year period. A total of...

Correlation between middle ear and mastoid volumes with results of type 1 paediatric tympanoplasty

This is a retrospective study of 45 paediatric patients, aged between eight and 18 years, who underwent Type 1 cartilage graft tympanoplasty using conchal cartilage. Middle ear and mastoid volumes of these children were correlated with anatomical and functional outcomes...

Voice change after total thyroidectomy with intact laryngeal nerves – a common but temporary problem

It has been reported that up to 87% of patients have a degree of voice dysfunction after thyroidectomy, even when the laryngeal nerves are preserved. Postoperative inflammation, laryngeal oedema due to vascular congestion, direct damage to the cricothyroid muscles and...