Cochlear implantation in far-advanced otosclerosis: hearing results and complications.

Severe forms of otosclerosis known as far-advanced otosclerosis (FAO) can lead to severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and can justify cochlear implantation. Because of the pathophysiology of otosclerosis, patients implanted for FAO may experience an increased rate of complications, such as facial nerve stimulation or electrode dislocation, and may have poorer hearing outcomes than expected. This retrospective study aimed to compare cochlear implantation hearing outcomes, surgical difficulties and complications in FAO patients versus non-FAO patients. Moreover, we evaluated whether high resolution computed tomography (CT scan) findings were predictive of perioperative problems, complications and hearing outcomes. FAO patients were diagnosed based on medical history, examination and CT scan. Thirty-five ears from FAO patients were compared to 38 control ears. Audiometric results were assessed at least 12 months after implantation by pure tone average, speech reception threshold, monosyllabic and disyllabic word recognition score (WRS) and Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) sentences test. Complications and surgical difficulties were compiled. CT scan findings were categorised within 3 grades of otosclerotic extension. No significant difference was found between FAO and non-FAO hearing outcomes, except that monosyllabic WRS were lower for FAO patients, especially those who underwent previous stapedotomy. Facial nerve symptomatology occurred in 8.6% of FAO patients; among these, one required explantation-reimplantation surgery. 86% of FAO implanted patients had retrofenestral extension on CT. These were associated with poorer disyllabic WRS (51% vs 68%, p < 0.05) than those with only fenestral involvement. Although not significant, high grade of severity on CT tended to be associated with surgical difficulties and complications. Cochlear implantation in FAO patients is an effective treatment technique. Though the overall complication rate is low, it tends to be higher in cases of severe extension on CT. Patient counselling should be adjusted accordingly.

Long-term single-center results of management of ethmoid adenocarcinoma: 95 patients over 28 years.

OBJECTIVES: To assess management options for ethmoid adenocarcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review over 28 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-five patients were included. Statistical analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method was performed to establish survival rates, and univariate analysis to determine prognostic factors. Independent chi(2) test was used to compare survival rates between T3 and T4a stages operated by transfacial and craniofacial approaches, respectively. RESULTS: Mean age was 64 years, and 76% patients were stage T3 or T4. Three patients had node metastasis, none of whom had distant metastases at time of diagnosis. Eighty-three percent of patients received surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy on tumor bed. Mean follow-up was 5 years. The recurrence and metastasis rate were 31 and 9% at median time of 3 years, respectively. The disease-specific 5- and 10-year survival rates were 78 and 64%, respectively. The disease-free survival rate was 61 and 44%, respectively, at the same time points. Meningo-encephalic (P = 10(-8)), orbit or infratemporal fossae (P = 0.046), and frontal sinus extension (P = 0.02) negatively impacted survival. There was no statistically significant difference in survival rate between T3 and T4a. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that less surgical treatment may be needed than is usually advocated for T1-T4a tumors and that surgery alone may be appropriate for T1-T3 tumors that have been resected with adequate margins in those patients for whom excellent follow-up is anticipated. No neck irradiation is indicated for N0 disease.

[Facial paralysis after temporal bone trauma]. / Paralysies faciales après fracture de l'os temporal.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate functional outcome in 64 cases of facial paralysis following temporal bone fracture and discuss decisive arguments leading either to medical treatment or surgical management. METHODS: Sixty-four patients suffering from post-traumatic facial paralysis were managed between 1995 and 2003: 38 (59%) were given medical treatment and 26 (41%) underwent surgery. A combined middle fossa and transmastoid approach was mostly used (58%). Electrophysiological testing and CT scan results were the main points of the decision algorithm. RESULTS: Electroneuromyography seems to be the most accurate exploration for guiding treatment. Good results (grades I to II on the House and Brackmann scale) were obtained in 63% of cases after medical management and in 39% of cases after surgical treatment. Grades III or IV were obtained in 13% of medically-treated patients and 42% of surgically-treated patients. CONCLUSION: Management of facial paralysis following temporal bone fracture in accordance with electrophysiological testing (evoked EMG) together with CT scan findings enabled accurate indications for surgical treatment. A good grade I or II result can be expected after medical management. A grade III is at best reached after nerve anastomosis.

[Management of cerebellopontine angle meningiomas and the posterior part of the temporal bone. Report on 44 cases]. / Approches thérapeutiques des méningiomes de l'angle ponto-cérébelleux et de la face postérieure du rocher. A propos de 44 cas.

OBJECTIVES: To review and study the management of CPA meningiomas through the experience of an otoneurosurgical team. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourty-two patients (44 meningiomas) were considered. Seventy-seven per cent of tumors (34 cases) were operated on; 6 tumors (14.6%) were exclusively irradiated using fractionated radiation therapy (FRT) and four only surveyed (9,8%). RESULTS: transpetrosal approaches were exclusively used. These were translabyrinthine (TLA) in 47%, widened retrolabyrinthine (WRLA) in 41% of cases, transcochlear approach (TCA) in three cases and a middle fossa in one. A transtentorial approach was combined in 35% of cases (8 TLA, 4 WRLA). Surgical removal was incomplete in 11,8% of cases; in 3 cases growing tumor was treated by FRT included one case of anaplasic tumor Postoperative complications were: 1 meningitis, 1 wound abscess, 2 hydrocephalus (6%) and 4 CSF fistulas (12%). No complications have been observed during the last 7 years (21 cases). House and Brackmann Grade 1 or 2 facial function was obtained in 59% of cases (but 10 patients had a preoperative facial nerve paresis). A normal or subnormal AAO-HNS Class A-B Hearing could be preserved in 57% of WRLA. Radiation therapy allowed tumor shrinkage in all cases. In 3 cases this regression was of more than 50%. CONCLUSION: Surgery is the gold standard in treating CPA meningiomas. Transpetrosal approaches and particularly WRLA pure or combined to a transtentorial approach are for us the best way to remove these tumors in preserving hearing and facial nerve function. When hearing is poor or when tumor extension to the clivus or the premeatal area is consistent a TLA is either planned preoperatively or obtained from a WRLA.

[Acoustic neuroma surgery. Results and complications in 348 cases]. / Le traitement chirurgical des schwannomes vestibulaires et ses conséquences. Etude rétrospective à propos de 348 cas.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate post-operative complications after acoustic neuroma surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 348 patients, who had acoustic neuroma surgery between 1984 and 1999. Symptoms, pre-operative evaluation, surgery and post-operative complications were analysed. RESULTS: 174 men and 174 women had an operation. Mean age was 51.8 years (11-78). 31 patients had a grade I tumour, 106 a grade II, 71 a grade III and 140 had a grade IV tumour. 195 patients have been operated through the translabyrinthine approach, 110 through the retrolabyrinthine approach, 42 through the sub-occipital approach, and one through the transcochlear approach. Mortality was 0.85%, 59.2% patients had a post-operative facial paralysis. Most of patients had post-operative dizziness, and 30% still had vestibular disturbances after one year. 9 patients (2.6%) had a cerebrospinal rhinorrhea and 24 patients had a cerebrospinal wound leak (6.9%). 22 patients had post-operative meningitis (6.3%). 2 patients had a cerebello pontine angle haemorrhage, and 3 patients had a brain stem infarct. CONCLUSION: Transpetrous approaches are safe for acoustic neuroma removal and the post-operative complication rate is low. The retrolabyrinthine approach seems to be a good hearing preservative approach, regardless of tumour volume.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a review of 30 cases]. / Carcinomes adénoïdes kystiques de la tête et du cou. Etude rétrospective a propos de 30 cas.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate treatment results and identify prognostics factors which determine local and regional treatment failure and crude survival in adenoid cystic tumours (ACT) in the head and neck. METHODS: A retrospective study (1984 to 2001) of 30 cases of adenoid cystic tumour. The mean age was 56.9 years, with a sex ratio female to male of 2:1. Tumours of all sites were encountered, most (26.7%) being in the nose and sinuses and major salivary glands (26.6%). Tumours at the T4 stage were found in 14 cases, mainly situated in the nose and sinuses (50%). No patient had cervical lymphadenopathy, while two patients (6.7%) had bony metastases at the time of diagnosis. Two patients (6.7%) were treated by surgery alone, for T1 and T2 tumours; four patients (13%) had radiotherapy alone, and 24 patients (80%) had surgery with post-operative radiotherapy with a mean dose of 60.3 Grays (56-65 Grays). RESULTS: Local recurrence occurred in 30.8% (nine cases) after a mean interval of 43 months (1 to 10 years). Treatment of these recurrences was by revision surgery in six cases, leading to local control in one case, but in a patient with pulmonary metastases. No cases of lymph node recurrence were observed. 30% of patients developed metastases; these were pulmonary in 44% and bony in 33.3%. Mean follow-up was five years. Crude survival at 3 years was 91%, at 5 years 86%, and at 10 years 50%. The percentage tumour-free survival was 70% at 3 years, and 57% at 5 years. 22 patients (73.3%) are still alive, 17 of them recurrence-free. Analysis of the prognostic factors has shown tumour to be more aggressive in the nose and sinuses when they presented at an advanced stage (T4); recurrence was more common when excision was incomplete, or if there was peri-neural spread. Tumours of "massive" histological type carried a poorer prognosis than those of cribrigorm type (60% death compared with 10%). The development of metastases is independent of local recurrence. Metastases to bone appear to be more rapidly aggressive than pulmonary metastases, which may remain asymptomatic for some time. CONCLUSION: Combined radiotherapy and surgery have allowed improved local control of ACT, but the therapeutic challenge remains the multiply recurrent ACT, or those with symptomatic metastases, and this despite new research techniques (neutral therapy, immuno-histochemistry, molecular biology). ACT are rare tumours, whose prognosis remains poor.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of nasal polyposis in France; the ORLI group experience.

Nasal polyposis (NP) is a common condition in patients consulting ENT practitioners in France. A multicenter prospective study was performed to evaluate symptoms, demography, environmental factors, personal and family history and associated conditions like asthma, and food or drugs sensitivity (FDS) in patients suffering from NP. In each investigation center assessments were performed at the moment of the initial consultation by the same investigator, then updated with complementary exploration results required by the protocol. The chi 2 test and the Fisher test were used for statistical analysis. In this study 224 patients were included. Males were predominant at 63%. Asthma was found in 45% of cases without relevant sex difference. However, FDS, positive in 31% of the patients, was statistically higher in females than in males (42.9% vs. 24.4%). Severe and major symptoms were more frequently found in the female population. Environment and habitat factors did not appear to be relevant. High rates of NP (52.66%) and asthma (43.58%) were found in the family history. Hereditary factors were suggested and lead us to further study the genetic factors potentially involved in this pathology.

[Ethmoid adenocarcinomas: retrospective study of 76 patients]. / Les adénocarcinomes de l'ethmoïde: étude rétrospective de 76 patients.

From the retrospective study of 76 adenocarcinomas of the ethmoid sinuses, results were expressed in two terms: the morbidity related to surgery and the oncologic outcome. This case study extends between 1975 and 2000. It includes 71 men and 5 women, with an average of 61 years. 81% of them works in wood dust, with a mean duration of exposure of 26 years. The diagnosis of adenocarcinoma is realized in the three months after the first signs, essentially rhinologicals, next neurologicals and ophthalmologicals. The majority of tumors were classified as T3N0M0, i.e. 57.89%. The treatment of this tumors is surgical: 34.2% surgical only and 59.2% with radiotherapy. The transfacial approach (paralateronasal and degloving) and the combined surgery are respectively performed in 36 patients and 35 patients. 23.2% patients had a local recurrence, and 10% developed cervical nodes and systemic metastasis. Survival rate based on the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method is 82% at 3 years, 80% at 5 years, 72% at 10 years. The prognosis of ethmoidal cancer is strictly correlated to local control. Local recurrence is statistically more likely in patients with involvement of the dura, brain and sphenoid sinus. With the analysis of the carcinologics results, we discuss the therapeutics indications of the adenocarcinomas and a new classification. Taking in account the involvement of the dura, sphenoid and orbit. We did not find any statistical differences between T3 patients treated by combined approach (n = 13) or by transfacial approach (n = 15).

Management of facial paralysis resulting from temporal bone fractures: Our experience in 115 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to review decision factors and overall results regarding surgical and nonsurgical management of post-traumatic facial nerve paralysis (FP). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study and literature review were performed. METHODS: Between 1984 and 1990, 115 cases of post-traumatic FP were handled. Patients were evaluated through clinical, audiologic, radiologic, and electromyogram assessment. Depending on examination results, patients were treated either medically or surgically through total facial nerve decompression. RESULTS: Forty-nine of the 50 medically treated patients experienced a normal or subnormal facial function recovery (grade I-II). Of the 65 (56.5%) surgically treated patients, 52 (80%) had immediate, 2 had delayed, and 11 (17%) had unknown delay-associated FP. The approaches chosen were middle fossa and transmastoid (75.3%), translabyrinthine (10.7%), or pure transmastoid according to facial nerve nonmotor branch evaluation, hearing, location of the fracture line, and the patient's general condition. Lesions were predominantly found in the geniculate ganglion area (66.2%). A nerve gap was found in only 13.8% of the cases. At 2 years after surgery, 93.8% had a grade I to III recovery. None had grade V or VI. CONCLUSION: The rarity of severe nerve lesions encountered in surgically treated patients raises the question of better selection of candidates for surgery. Surgery is clearly indicated when FP is total, is of immediate onset, and is associated with a bad prognosis electromyogram pattern. In other settings, decisions are to be made based on high-resolution CT data and electromyogram results, thanks to a clinical survey and second electromyogram evaluation.

[French multicenter prospective epidemiologic study (ORLI Group) of allergic and lung diseases associated with nasal polyposis]. / Etude épidémiologique prospective multicentrique française (Groupe ORLI) de la pathologie pneumoallergologique associée á la polypose naso-sinusienne.

224 patients presenting with nasal polyposis (NP) were included in a french prospective multicenter study. NP was evaluated by nasal endoscopy and computed tomography. Allergic status was documented using skin prick-tests and/or specific IgE. Pneumologic assessment included spirometry with carbamyl-choline hyper-reactivity test or beta 2 mimetic broncho-dilation test. Minimal follow up period was 1 year. 45% of the whole population were considered as asthmatic. Asthma onset occurred before and after the NP onset in respectively 45.7%, 22.3% and 32% of cases; these two conditions started simultaneously in 32% of patients. Skin prick-tests and/or specific IgE were positive in 32.5% of cases. In most of the cases (80%), patients were polysensitized to house dust mite and/or pollens and/or animal danders and/or fungi. 31% of the population had idiosyncrasy, caused by drugs in general and especially aspirin in 44% of cases. The global population could be divided in two groups according to the occurrence of previous polypectomy or not. The group "polypectomy" and the group "no polypectomy" were similar regarding the frequency, the age of onset, the course and the severity of associated asthma. Familial history (parents, children, brothers and sisters) was of great interest: 58.7% of the patients had one (or more) relative suffering from NP, 43.6% of the patients had one (or more) relative suffering from asthma and 12.2% of the patients had one (or more) relative suffering from idiosyncrasy. These results support a genetic etiology for NP.

[Abnormal trajectory of the internal carotid artery in the middle ear. Report of a case]. / Trajet aberrant de l'artère carotide interne dans l'oreille moyenne. A propos d'une observation.

The authors report a case with an aberrant course of the internal carotid artery within the middle ear--a rare abnormality with only about fifty cases so far reported in the literature. The combination of pulsatile tinnitus and a retro-tympanic mass calls for a precise anatomical investigation of the temporal bone before any surgery is undertaken. The role of the various complementary investigations is discussed. A high resolution CT scan is the key investigation, and is sufficient to give the diagnosis in the majority of cases. Angio-MRI currently affords the possibility of confirming this vascular malpositioning in a non-invasive way. Arteriography should be used only when there is remaining doubt about the possibility of a glomus tumour, or before treatment by clamping. The most logical course to adopt would seem to us to be to abstain from treatment once this diagnosis has been made, given the risk of major haemorrhage and the potential neurological complications.

[Facial paralysis: treatment with an acyclovir-methylprednisolone combination, preliminary results]. / Paralysies faciales a frigore: traitement par l'association Aciclovir-Methylprednisolone, résultats préliminaires.

RATIONALE: Many actual data suspect a viral etiology to Bell's palsy. Herpes viridae are more and more incriminated. On these basis, we have studied the efficacity of parenteral association of 30 mg/Kg/j of Aciclovir and 1 mg/Kg/j of Methylprednisolone in the treatment of Bell's palsy with less than 12 days of evolution. METHOD: The evaluation concern 53 patients. We also evaluated the functional motor result (using House and Brackmann staging) and search prognostic factors in clinic and paraclinic data. A viral investigation have been made in most of the cases. RESULTS: Only one of our patients treated with Aciclovir keeps some sequeles (stage III of House and Brackmann classification). We didn't found any deleterious effect. Statistically, the electromyography is the only one test with a prognostic value. But we feel that delay between the starting and the treatment of the palsy is important. Viral tests show sometime abnormal Ig against the Herpes viridae group. CONCLUSIONS: These promising results are lightened with a review of the literature. A multicentric investigation is already in place for a stronger statistic effect.

[Fractionated radiation therapy long-term effectiveness in the treatment of cerebello-pontine angle schwannomas: 12 years of experience in 30 cases]. / Efficacité à long terme de la radiothérapie fractionnée dans le traitement des schwannomes de l'angle ponto-cérébelleux : expérience de 12 ans sur 30 cas.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this research was to evaluate long-term results of fractionated radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of cerebello-pontine angle schwannomas. METHODS: from January 1986 to October 1995, 29 patients with stage III and IV scwhannomas were treated with external fractionated RT. One patient was irradiated on both sides and indication for RT was as follows: a) poor general condition or old age contraindicating surgery, 16 cases; b) hearing preservation in bilateral tumors after contralateral tumor removal, 6 cases; c) partial resection or high risk of recurrence after subsequent surgery for relapse, 5 cases; d) non surgical relapse, 3 cases. Most patients were irradiated with 6 to 10 MV photons. A three- to four-field technique with coplanar static beams and conformal blocks was used. Doses were calculated on a 95 % isodose and were given 5 days a week for a mean total dose of 51 Gy (1.8 Gy/fraction). RESULTS: Median follow-up from RT was 66 months (7 to 120); seven patients died, two with progressive disease, five from non tumoral cause. Two patients underwent total removal after RT (1 stable and 1 growing tumor). On the whole, tumor shrinkage was observed in 13 patients (43.3 %), stable disease in 14 (46.6 %), and tumor progression in three. Hearing was preserved in 4 out of 6 hearing patients (1 class A hearing, 2 class B and 1 class C). No patient experienced CN5 or CN7 neuropathy. CONCLUSION: long-term efficacy or fractionated RT is well documented in this series. Acute and delayed tolerance was excellent. Hearing can be preserved for a long time.

[Malignant or necrotizing otitis externa: experience in 22 cases]. / Otites externes "malignes" ou nécrosantes progressives.

Malignant or progressive necrotizing otitis extrema is an uncommon but severe infectious condition of the external auditory canal. Over a period of four years, we treated 22 patients: 60% had diabetes (1/4 insulin dependent) and 13% were immunodepressed. The causal germ was Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 87% of cases. The pretherapeutic work-up included a computed tomography scan and a technetium scintigraphy to confirm diagnosis and assess extension. Repeated scintigraphies with gallium were used to follow the course under treatment. Medical treatment was used in most cases (16/22) with parenteral antibiotic therapy using a third-generation cephalosporin (ceftazidime or ceftriaxone) and a fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin) and, if there was no contraindication, hyperbaric oxygen. Surgery is not indicated in malignant otitis externa. We had a 95% cure rate with only 10% recurrence. We reviewed the data in the literature on malignant otitis externa and present the important diagnostic, imaging and therapeutic aspects.

Preference for the closed technique in the management of cholesteatoma of the middle ear in children: a retrospective study of 215 consecutive patients treated over 10 years.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical data, extensions, residual and recurrent lesion rates, and functional results in cases of cholesteatoma in pediatric patients. DESIGN: A retrospective study at a single tertiary care center over a decade. PATIENTS: In 199 children (mean age 9.6 years), 215 cholesteatomas were treated surgically, and the children were followed up for an average of 70 months (range 25-118 months). INTERVENTIONS: Therapeutic and rehabilitative surgical procedures were done, using either a closed technique (CT) or an open technique: tympanoplasty in open technique (TOT), radical mastoidectomy (RM), or Rambo's technique) MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical findings, residual and recurrent lesions rate, and hearing assessment. RESULTS: The first surgical procedure was CT in 88% of cases, TOT in 10%, RM and Rambo's technique in 1%. Two operations were done in 61.8% of children; 21% had three operations and 4.5% had four. Residual lesions were observed in 21.5% of all children, 32.8% in those undergoing a planned second look. Recurrence rate was 9.8%. Surprisingly, residual and recurrent lesion rates were higher after TOT (23.8% and 19%) than after CT (20.5%, 8.9%), but TOT-treated children had much more extensive lesions. A speech reception threshold (SRT) <30 dB hearing loss (HL) was achieved in 63.7% of patients, and normal hearing was obtained in 12.1%; SRT was significantly better after CT (mean 26.7 dB) than after TOT (mean 37.4 dB), after type II (mean 27 dB) than after type III (35 dB). A high-frequency pure-tone hearing loss >10 dB was uncommon (7.6%). CONCLUSION: These results support the continued use of CT in most cases of cholesteatoma in children in developed countries.

[Olfactory esthesioneuromas]. / Esthésioneuromes olfactifs.

Olfactory neuroblastomas are rare malignant tumours of the nose arising from the olfactory epithelium. In a retrospective series of 18 cases and a review of the literature, the authors establish the main features of this tumour. They emphasise the difficulties of histological examination, often requiring immuno-cyt-chemistery and electron microscopy. They point out the value of a new classification, and confirm treatments being radio-surgical, with use of the combined rhino-neurosurgical approach when there is extension to the cribriform plate. They report a 5-year survival of 91.5%, with 87.5% at 10 years. The high incidence of lymph gland metastases (16.6%) is greater than that of local recurrence (11%) especially in the more advanced cases. The question of prophylactic treatment of the neck nodes is one to be considered.

[Congenital cholesteatoma of the ear in the child. Clinical, follow-up and therapeutic analysis of a series of 34 cases]. / Cholestéatomes congénitaux de l'oreille chez l'enfant. Analyse clinique, évolutive et thérapeutique d'une série de 34 cas.

Long a subject of debate, congenital cholesteatomas of the middle ear appear to be a specific clinical entity different from the much more frequent classical acquired cholesteoma. Characteristic features of congenital cholesteatomas are young age at diagnosis, typical peroperative presentation, satisfactory mastoid air cells in almost all cases, and associated congenital malformations, which may involve the otology system or not. Diagnosis is a difficult task due to the long latency period with no clinical manifestations. These congenital cholesteatomas appear to be more aggressive in a mastoid with functioning air cells. Thus open excision does not appear to be appropriate and should be reserved for selected cases. For us, the closed technique with two procedures is more adapted but requires good cooperation with the family. The risk of recurrence is however significant and at least comparable to that of acquired cholesteatomas in children. Follow-up should be persuade as long as possible. Functional results have been encouraging even though ossicular destruction is frequent. The quality of the auditory tube appears to be a determining factor.

New technique of side-to-end hypoglossal-facial nerve attachment with translocation of the infratemporal facial nerve.

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to assess the clinical results of hypoglossal-facial nerve attachment (HFA), which was primarily performed in patients following excision of tumors of the cerebellopontine angle. In six of the patients a new side-to-end procedure was used. METHODS: The authors have performed a retrospective study of 33 patients who underwent HFA, including 24 classic end-to-end, three May, and six side-to-end procedures. For the latter procedure, a hemihypoglossal-facial nerve attachment was performed by rerouting the intratemporal facial nerve; this avoided the jump-cable graft used in May's technique. The goal of the new procedure is to reduce the incidence of morbidity due to hemilingual paralysis (difficulty in chewing, speaking, and swallowing). The incidence of hemilingual paralysis was evaluated based on the findings of a questionnaire that was completed by the patients. The patient's facial mobility was assessed using the House and Brackmann grading system and the author's analytic scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: The HFA offers good functional results. Of the 28 cases evaluated, nine had House and Brackmann Grade III, 17 Grade IV, and only two Grade V at 18 months. When the new technique of side-to-end hemihypoglossal-facial nerve attachment was used, there was considerable reduction, if not complete disappearance, of lingual morbidity and the facial functional results were constant and satisfactory: there were five patients with House and Brackmann Grade III and one with Grade IV, and their mean percentage of facial mobility was 43.3%.

Xenogeneic ossicular implants: an experimental study of heterotopic, demineralized, lyophilized, porcine implants in the guinea-pig.

This study was done to compare the outcome of porcine ossicular implants in the middle ear and the subcutaneous dorsal region of the guinea-pig to those of allo-implants implanted in parallel in the dorsal region. The implants were heteropic, xenogeneic, demineralized (HCl), lyophilized and sterilized. The evaluation was histological (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) and immunological (immunofluorescence staining). Fifty-four guinea-pigs were implanted in the middle ear and 14 of them were also implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal region with xeno-implants and allo-implants. The middle ear implants were found to be constantly reossified and coated with normal mucosa with only a minimal immune reaction. In contrast, the dorsal xeno-implants were found to be the target of mononucleic infiltration, fibrous encapsulation and an influx of immunoglobulins resulting in segregation. The corresponding allo-implants were found to be partially reoccupied and reossified. These findings highlight the value of HCl demineralization in the induction of non-species-specific Bone Morphogenetic Protein and the failure of attempts at immuno-despecification. It appears that the fate of the implant depends less on its antigenic load than on the site of implantation. In this regard the middle ear is apparently very advantageous. The very good short-term tolerance and recovery observed in the middle ear xeno-implant suggest that these implants offer sufficiently good results to warrant clinical testing.

[Jugular bulb diverticular and facial paralysis]. / Diverticule du bulbe de la jugulaire et paralysie faciale.

The authors report a case where a woman presents a right jugular bulb procidence already known and responsible of a perception deafness. Secondarily, a right facial paralysis is appeared progressively and not regressive even with medical treatment. When the computed tomography as shown an intrapetrous diverticular, the facial paralysis treatment was surgical to decompress the facial nerve. The literature study shoes the rarity of this association facial paralysis and jugular bulb procidence (only two cases), more often responsible of deafness, tinnitus, and vertigo. The diagnosis is given by computed tomography. M.R.I. has not still be evaluated. Then the authors insist on the progressive character of the facial paralysis and on the necessity of a surgical treatment.