Full thickness cartilage palisade tympanoplasty with malleus interposition: a study of the long term results.

The aim of this retrospective study is to review long term results of full-thickness cartilage palisade tympanoplasty (FTCPT) with malleus head interposition performed on 51 patients (56 ears); 36 women and 15 men (7-73 years, 44 years average). The pathology of ears which encourages this technique of tympanoplasty is presented. On average 12 years after surgery we have elaborated anatomic and functional results. Anatomic results were categorized based on empiric evaluation of the new tympanic membrane status: 40 (71%) tympanic membranes without anatomic irregularities, 14 (25%) with irregularities and 2 (4%) with secondary perforation. Functional results (tonal audiogram) are based on pure tone average air-bone gap (PTA-ABG) at 4 frequencies. Main functional results of 51 ears (51 audiograms performed): pre- and post-operative average PTA-ABGs were 27.07 +/- 9.98 and 10.77 +/- 7.85 dB (t = 10.36; p < 0.001). In the group of ears with a tympanic membrane with no anatomic irregularities, pre- and post-operative average PTA-ABGs were 27.30 +/- 10.56 and 10.82 +/- 8.33 dB (t = 8.09; p < 0.001). In the group of ears with cartilage resorption, pre- and post-operative PTA-ABGs were 24.92 +/- 8.19 and 9.33 +/- 6.58 dB (t = 6.21; p < 0.001). The differences between the two groups are irrelevant. Postoperative PTA-ABG values of ears after first surgery (N = 34) and revision surgery (N = 17) was significantly different (8.75 +/- 5.75 and 15.16 +/- 9.62 dB) (t = 2.60; p = 0.016). In spite of the thickness of the new tympanal membrane, FTCPT is a successful technique for solving advanced ear pathology.

The contribution of electromyography to the diagnostics of some rare palatal anomalies.

The paper presents the electromyographic (EMG) findings of the soft palate in three patients: a patient with Mohr syndrome and cleft palate, a patient with palatal asymmetry and rhinolalia and a patient with vertical oro-ocular facial cleft with marked asymmetry of the cleft palate. In the first patient, electrical silence was registered in one half of the palate. In the second patient, moderate loss of active motor units was registered in the hypoplastic part of the palate. In the third patient, in spite of asymmetry, the EMG finding was normal on both sides of the palate.

Gastroesophageal reflux and sequelae of chronic tubotympanal disorders in children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare sequelae of chronic tubotympanal disorders in children with and without gastroesophageal reflux (GER). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 32 patients with chronic tubotympanal disorders GER was studied by means of 24-h continuous esophageal pH monitoring. After a period of 2-6 years (mean 4 years) sequelae of the tubotympanal disorders were examined, together with the clinical status of the ears and hearing status. The criteria for classification into mild, moderate and severe sequelae were based on the clinical status of the ear. Hearing was determined using tonal audiograms. Conductive hearing loss was classified as either slight (< or = 35 dB hearing loss in speech frequencies) or severe (>35 dB hearing loss in speech frequencies). RESULTS: In the group of 16 patients (mean age 6.1 years) with GER, sequelae were observed in 29 ears (mild, n=11; moderate, n=5; severe, n=13). Hearing impairment was determined in 20 ears (mild, n=8; severe, n=12). In the group of 16 patients (mean age 7.1 years) without GER, sequelae were observed in 17 ears (mild, n=11; moderate, n=1; severe, n=5). Hearing impairment was determined in 10 ears (mild, n=6; severe, n=4). CONCLUSION: The total number of ears with sequelae and the total number of ears with conductive hearing impairment were significantly higher in patients with GER.

Combined anomalies of the palate in Mohr syndrome: is preoperative electromyography of the palate useful?

The authors present a girl with typical characteristics of oral-facial-digital syndrome type II (Mohr syndrome) with a cleft soft palate and pendulous tongue nodules. Because of feeding difficulties, electromyography was performed of both morphologically identical halves of the soft palate. One half showed a normal muscle action potential and in the other half electrical silence was registered. Exploratory surgery during palatoplasty showed a fatty hamartoma in the half of the palate in which no electric potentials had been registered.

The quantitative analysis of the vascularization following two basic auditory canal skin incisions.

Three groups of nine patients each were analyzed. The first two groups consisted of those that underwent tympanoplastic due to chronic inflammation of middle ear. Two different standard auditory canal skin incisions were applied, i.e. tympanomeatal flap (TMF) or vascular strip (VS). The third control group consisted of non-operated patients. All the operated patients were subjected to a quantitative analysis of the auditory canal revascularization by means of the Weibel stereological test method, i.e. the B 100 double network system. The density of capillaries, arterioles, venulolymphatic spaces and a total volume density of all vascular elements of the auditory canal skin were measured. The obtained results of vascularization were compared with those of the target control group. It was found out that there were no significant differences in vascularization of auditory canal skin between TMF and VS patients from one side and the control group on the other side.

Congenital laryngeal cyst: one or two cysts.

The case presented is of a neonate with extreme respiratory distress immediately after birth, caused by a large laryngeal cyst. The vertical diameter of the cyst was larger than the height of the neonatal larynx. First excision of the cyst was performed in the region of the prominent aryepiglottic fold. Three weeks later, because of a recurrence of dyspnea, excision of the prominent wall of an obstructing cystic lesion was performed in the ventriculus Morgagni.