Chronic neck pain and vertigo: Is a true balance disorder present?

OBJECTIVE: We sought to establish whether chronic neck pain patients suffering from vertigo and instability have true balance disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-two patients having suffered from chronic neck pain for at least 3 months were enrolled in the present study. Patients with a history of neck trauma or ear, nose and throat, ophthalmological or neurological abnormalities were excluded. The patients were evaluated in a clinical examination (neck mobility) and a test of dynamic and static balance on the Satel((R)) platform in which mediolateral (Long X) and anterior-posterior deviations (Long Y) were monitored. Our patients were divided into three groups: a group of 32 patients with neck pain and vertigo (G1), a group of 30 patients with chronic neck pain but no vertigo (G2) and a group of 30 healthy controls. RESULTS: All groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, weight and shoe size. Osteoarthritis was found in 75% and 70% of the subjects in G1 and G2, respectively. Neck-related headache was more frequent in G1 than in G2 (65.5% versus 40%, respectively; p=0.043). Restricted neck movement was more frequent in G1 and concerned flexion (p<0.001), extension (p<0.001), rotation (p<0.001), right inclination (p<0.001) and left inclination (p<0.001). Balance abnormalities were found more frequently in G1 than in G2 or G3. Static and dynamic posturographic assessments (under "eyes open" and "eyes shut" conditions) revealed abnormalities in statokinetic parameters (Long X and Long Y) in G1. CONCLUSION: Our study evidenced abnormal static and dynamic balance parameters in chronic neck pain patients with vertigo. These disorders can be explained by impaired cervical proprioception and neck movement limitations. Headache was more frequent in these patients.

Outcomes for patients referred urgently with suspected head and neck cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The 1998 National Health Service White Paper stated that anyone suspected of having a cancer would be seen by a specialist within two weeks. The 'trigger symptoms' prompting such referral have been nationally agreed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. This study aimed to quantify the diagnostic yield of urgent referrals for suspected head and neck malignancy, and to identify reasons why patients ultimately diagnosed with malignancy may not have been referred via this pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients referred to the trust with suspected head and neck malignancy in 2005 were included in the study. Data were obtained on date of referral, date of appointment, reason for referral and which National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline heading the referral fell under, clinical findings, and final diagnosis. Concurrently, all patients in the trust with a histological diagnosis of head and neck malignancy were identified using the computer records of the pathology department. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-seven patients were referred with suspected head and neck malignancy over the one-year study period. Of these, 169 were seen within two weeks. The commonest causes of referral were hoarseness and neck lumps. Of these patients, 22 (12 per cent) were ultimately diagnosed with malignancy. During the one-year study period, 39 patients were diagnosed hospital-wide with head and neck malignancy, 17 of whom had not been referred via the urgent referral pathway. No unifying theme was identified to explain why these patients had not been referred via this pathway. CONCLUSION: In a group of patients with symptoms suggestive of head and neck malignancy, only 12 per cent were ultimately diagnosed with cancer. Of all the patients within the trust diagnosed with head and neck cancer, 44 per cent had come from outside the urgent referral pathway.

Horner's syndrome following tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is one of the commonest procedures performed in the United Kingdom. Peri-operative infiltration of local anaesthetic is a well documented adjunct to post-operative analgesia. We report the first case of temporary Horner's syndrome in a patient who received such treatment and postulate an anatomical explanation.

A selective spectrophotometric method for determination of copper with ferron.

A selective spectrophotometric determination of copper is based on extraction of the copper-ferron complex with tribenzylamine in chloroform at low acidity, and measurement of the absorbance of the yellow extract at 410 nm. Beer's law is found to hold up to 8 microg/ml copper concentration. Of 30 elements tested, only molybdenum interferes. The ratio copper:ferron:tribenzylamine in the extracted species is 1:2:2.