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Perceptions in facial ageing

A determinant of a youthful face is based on how facial aesthetic units flow together. Facial ageing results in surface and subsurface structural changes. These factors contribute to the position of bony landmarks, formation of wrinkles and lines and variability...

Microvascular surgery - does size matter

Success rates for microvascular free tissue transfer performed for head and neck reconstruction are currently very high. As the recipient vessel diameter decreases, questions of reliability and ease of access are raised. This retrospective analysis looked at 89 flaps in...

Peritonsillar abscess - an indication for tonsillectomy?

Extension of infection beyond the tonsil results in a peritonsillar abscess and is a frequent emergency presentation in otolaryngology. In many places one episode of peritonsillar abscess is not considered an indication for emergency or interval tonsillectomy and future episodes...

Semi dynamic reconstruction of the lower lip

The main goal of reconstructive surgery for facial paralysis is the restoration of smiling and function of eye closure. The deformity of the lower lip in paralysis is ptosis of the corner of the mouth, eversion of the vermillion and...

Radiofrequency for tonsillectomy

This Turkish study compared the use of radiofrequency (RF) tonsillectomy to the more traditional cold steel dissection (CD) technique. The authors enrolled 114 patients undergoing tonsillectomy for chronic tonsillitis and tonsil hypertrophy (causing upper airway obstruction) over a 4-month period....

Damage to the cochlear nucleus with electrocautery to the cochlear nerve

This study is of importance to neurotologists and neurosurgeons. It is unclear why patients with NF2 have poorer outcomes with an auditory brainstem implant compared to non-tumour patients. This effect is postulated to be due to damage to certain cells...

Ultrasound assessment of metastatic disease

This Japanese study of 10 patients over 15 years, assesses the role of ultrasonography in assessing metastatic disease to the thyroid gland, specifically renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Whilst uncommon, the authors state that there is a favourable prognosis when...

Botulinum toxin in ENT

This comprehensive review neatly summarises non-cosmetic uses of botulinum toxin within otorhinolaryngology, it is perhaps easy to forget the medical use of botulinum toxin has now been approved for the last thirty years. Its overall safety profile places it as...

To monitor or not to monitor

This is a report on an e-mail based survey of 1249 otologic surgeons on their practice regarding facial nerve monitoring during ear surgery. The response rate was very low (6.6%). The majority of responders (92%) stated that they did not...

Vestibular screening in occupational medicine

Occupational vestibular disorders carry a high medico legal and economic burden. The occupational medicine physician must rely on rapid, non-invasive, economical and reproducible screening tests. This article compares the simplified caloric test of Veits (CTV) with the skull vibration-induced nystagmus...

Hearing protectors and speech perception

This study tested 31 subjects using hearing protectors by maintaining a constant intensity level for the speech signal while varying background noise levels. The goal was to use this test to detect speech perceptual abilities under different hearing protectors –...