Does Nasal Septal Deviation Affect the Success of Tympanoplasty Surgery?

OBJECTIVE: This paper deals with the investigation of the effects of nasal septal deviation evaluated by acoustic rhinometry (ARM) in the success of tympanoplasty surgery. SUBJECT AND METHODS: All patients who underwent tympanoplasty surgery by the same surgeon were reviewed. The patients with nasopharyngeal or nasal masses, polyps, symptoms of allergic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis, or concha bullosa were excluded from the study. Forty patients who underwent tympanoplasty at least one year ago were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the graft success results. Acoustic rhinometry evaluations of the patients were performed. RESULTS: There were 25 and 15 cases in the intact graft (group A) and re-perforated group (group B), respectively. For the same side of the operated ear, ARM values of group A were 0.47 cm², at the first narrowest cross-sectional area (MCA 1), 0.43 cm² at the second narrowest cross-sectional area (MCA 2), 1.51 cm³ volume at the first 2 cm of the nasal cavity (Vol 1) and 3.33 cm³ volume between the second and fifth cm of the nasal cavity (Vol 2). Acoustic rhinometry values of group B were 0.50 cm², 0.47 cm², 1.60 cm³ and 3.19 cm³ for MCA 1, MCA 2, Vol 1 and Vol 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that nasal septal deviation may not affect the success of tympanoplasty surgery, and septoplasty may not be necessary before ear surgery.

Silent sinus syndrome.

We present a case of silent sinus syndrome (SSS) who underwent unilateral surgical endoscopic maxillary meatotomy. Orbital floor reconstruction is delayed after follow up. Enophthalmos recovered 8 months after the surgery and radiologic findings improved. SSS is a clinical entity that should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of enophthalmos and can be treated successfully via endoscopic approach.

Investigation of age, sex and menstrual stage variation in human cerumen lipid composition by high performance thin layer chromatography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to correlate quantitative changes in the lipid composition of human cerumen with changes in age, sex and menstrual cycle stage. DESIGN: Cerumen samples were collected from the external ear canal and analysed using sequential, one dimensional, high performance thin layer chromatography. SUBJECTS: The following age groups of both sexes were investigated: one to 10 years; 11-18 years; 19-40 years; and 40 years and over. Additionally, cerumen samples from subjects in three stages of the menstrual cycle were compared. RESULTS: In the cerumen samples, the peak values for wax ester and cholesterol occured between the ages of one and 10 years for both sexes. However, squalene and triglyceride content reached maximum levels at puberty. Men aged 19-40 years had a significantly greater percentage of cerumen lipid squalene content than women from the same age group; however, their cholesterol content was found to be lower. Regarding the various menstrual cycle stages, cerumen samples taken at the follicular stage from women aged 19-40 years had a significantly lower free fatty acids content, and higher cholesterol and squalene levels, compared with samples taken in the luteal or menstrual stages. CONCLUSION: The proportions of the lipid constituents of cerumen varied with age, sex and menstrual stage. In cerumen, the main lipid constituent stimulated at puberty appears to be squalene, not wax esters as reported for sebum. The relevance of lipid constituents to cerumen's protective role is discussed.

Effects of the chorda tympani damage on submandibular glands: scintigraphic changes.

The aim of this study is to compare the scintigraphic results of a denervated submandibular gland with the contralateral normal side in patients with unilateral chorda tympani damage. Sixteen patients (11 women and five men with a mean age of 27) with unilateral proven chorda tympani damage during their previous ear surgery were included in the study. The perfusion ratio (PR), concentration ratio (CR) and stimulated excretion ratio (SER) were calculated scintigraphically and the results from the salivary glands on opposite sides were compared. For submandibular glands, the perfusion ratio (PR), concentration ratio (CR) and stimulated excretion ratio (SER) were found to be 0.65 +/- 0.21, 0.70 +/- 0.21, 0.79 +/- 0.37, respectively. All ratios resulted from statistically decreased radioactivity accumulation on the affected side (p<0.05). Chorda tympani damage negatively affects the function of the ipsilateral submandibular glands despite the absence of atrophy. Dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy is a practical and valuable method of disclosing the decreased capacity of perfusion, concentration and secretion function in unilateral neurological deprivation.