Computer-assisted versus traditional technique in fibular free-flap mandibular reconstruction: A CT symmetry study.

OBJECTIVES: In the past few years, virtual planning has been increasingly used for mandibular reconstruction. The objective of our study was to evaluate and compare symmetry and the accuracy of morphologic reconstruction in patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction by fibular free flap between traditional freehand technique and computer-aided surgical cutting guides. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective study included all cases of mandibular reconstruction using fibular free flap. In the three-dimensional (3D) group, virtual surgery planning with cut guides was used (Materialise ®), while the Control group underwent traditional freehand reconstruction. Morphometric comparisons were made to evaluate reconstruction accuracy between pre- and post-operative CT scans (mean deviations of 3 angles and 3 lengths). Mandible symmetry was calculated by comparing each angle and length in the affected and non-affected sides of the mandible. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients treated between January 2015 and June 2018 were included: 25 patients in the 3D group and 8 in the control group. The average number of mandibular segments was 2.16±0.55 in the 3D group and 1.75±1.16 in the control group (p=0.005). Mean deviations between pre- and post-operative values of the coronal mandibular angle (angle formed by the line through the two condyles and the ramus), mandibular body height and mandibular ramus length on the affected side were significantly lower in the 3D group than in the control group. Sagittal mandibular angle symmetry was better in the 3D group than, in the control group (ratios of affected over non-affected sides: 1.07±0.04 vs 1.12±0.1; p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Virtual surgical planning for fibula free-flap reconstruction helps to improve reconstruction accuracy and maintains a significantly greater symmetry than the traditional freehand technique, and should improve functional and esthetic outcome in mandibular reconstruction.

Real-life study of the role of high-flow nasal cannula for bronchiolitis in children younger than 3 months hospitalised in general pediatric departments.

We aimed to describe the real-life role of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for bronchiolitis in infants under 3 months of age admitted to three general pediatric departments during the 2017-2018 epidemic period. We retrospectively assessed the clinical severity (Wang score) for every 24-h period of treatment (H0-H24 and H24-H48) according to the initiated medical care (HFNC, oxygen via nasal cannula, or supportive treatments only), the child's discomfort (EDIN score), and transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A total of 138 infants were included: 47±53 days old, 4661±851.9 g, 70 boys (50.7%), 58 with hypoxemia (42%), Wang score of 6.67±2.58, 110 (79.7%) staying for 48 consecutive hours in the same ward. During the H0-H24 period, only patients treated with HFNC had a statistically significant decrease in the severity score (n=21/110; -2 points, P=0.002) and an improvement in the discomfort score (n=15/63; -3.8 points, P<0.0001). There was no difference between groups during the H24-H48 period. The rate of admission to the PICU was 2.9% for patients treated for at least 24 h with HFNC (n=34/138, 44% with oxygen) versus 16.3% for the others (P=0.033). Early use of HFNC improves both clinical status and discomfort in infants younger than 3 months admitted for moderately severe bronchiolitis, whatever their oxygen status.

Neck stiffness after transoral pharyngolaryngeal surgery for squamous cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Pyogenic spondylodiscitis is a rare, destructive intervertebral disc infection. CASE SUMMARY: We describe a case of C2-C3 pyogenic spondylodiscitis after transoral surgery of the posterior pharyngeal wall in a 64-year-old man with a history of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated by neck irradiation (45Gy). Ten years after initial treatment, he underwent total laryngectomy for laryngeal SCC, together with transoral resection of carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the posterior pharyngeal wall followed by BioDesign® tissue repair graft. Five months later, C2-C3 spondylodiscitis was diagnosed with the formation of a fistula between the posterior pharyngeal wall and the intervertebral disc. Antibiotic therapy was administered for a total duration of 3 months (multi-susceptible Escherichia coli). Eight months after the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis, the patient died from carotid artery rupture following another course of radiotherapy for lymph node recurrence. DISCUSSION: Larger-scale studies are necessary to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of radiation-induced spondylodiscitis that currently remain poorly elucidated. The best treatment strategy (choice and duration of antibiotic therapy) and the optimal frequency of follow-up must be determined and the value of preventive measures (biomaterial, flap repair) needs to be evaluated.

Ossifying fibromas of the paranasal sinuses: diagnosis and management.

Fibro-osseous benign lesions rarely affect the sinonasal tract and are divided into 3 different entities, namely osteoma, fibrous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma. They share several clinical, radiological and histological similarities, but have different behaviours. Ossifying fibroma, and in particular the "juvenile" histological subtype, may have a locally aggressive evolution and a high risk for recurrence if removal is incomplete. The purpose of the present study is to compare the clinical behaviour of ossifying fibroma with the other benign fibro-osseous lesions; highlight different behaviour between the histological subtypes; compare the advantages, limitations and outcomes of an endoscopic endonasal approach with reports in the literature. We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients treated for sinonasal ossifying fibroma at a tertiary care centre. All patients underwent CT scan, and MRI was performed in cases of cranial base involvement or recurrence. Pre-operative biopsy was performed in cases where it was possible to use an endoscopic approach. One patient underwent pre-operative embolisation with ipsilateral visual loss after the procedure. Depending on its location, removal of the tumour was performed using an endoscopic (n = 7), or an external (n = 3) or combined (n = 1) approach. Histopathologically, 5 patients presented the conventional type, 5 the juvenile psammomatoid variant, which was associated in 1 case with an aneurismal bone cyst, and 1 case presented the trabecular juvenile variant. Three patients affected by the juvenile psammomatoid histological variant presented invasion of the skull base and underwent a subtotal removal that subsequently required, due to the regrowth of the remnant, a transbasal approach. Clinical, radiological and histological findings should all be considered to establish differential diagnosis among fibrous osseous lesions. More studies are necessary to conclude if the localisation and extension of the disease at the time of diagnosis is more important than the histological variant. An endoscopic approach is the first choice in most of cases even if an external open approach may be necessary in selected patients.

[Value of routine identification of respiratory infectious agents in children hospitalized with an acute asthma exacerbation]. / Intérêt de l'identification en routine des agents pathogènes respiratoires chez les enfants hospitalisés pour une exacerbation d'asthme.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. With its high economic burden, it is considered a disease of major public health importance by the World Health Organization. The link between respiratory tract infections and acute exacerbation has been recognized for a long time. The aim of this retrospective study in routine care was to evaluate our practices concerning microbiological prescriptions in children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation. STUDY DESIGN: All children aged from 2 to 15 years hospitalized for asthma exacerbation between January 2010 and December 2011 in our unit were included in the study. Microbiological prescriptions, their indications, their results, and their cost were studied. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven children were included in the study. A potential causative agent was sought in 79.7% of the children (n=157) by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The main indications were upper airway infections, hypoxemia, and pneumonia. Viruses were detected in 23.8% of them (30/126). Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected by PCR in only 3.2% of these patients (4/125). No other bacterial agent was identified. There was no correlation between the severity of asthma exacerbation and the microbiological diagnosis of infection. The results did not influence the therapy given. These prescriptions represented a substantial cost for each child. CONCLUSION: These analyses do not seem to have a real advantage for the patient except for epidemiology. It would be important to conduct a new study analyzing the role of rhinovirus, and of other viruses such as coronavirus, bocavirus, and enterovirus, not routinely investigated in our hospital, and to question the value of these costly microbiological tests.

Radionecrosis of the frontal lobe as a consequence of malignant ethmoid tumor management: incidence, diagnosis, risk factors, prevention and management.

Malignant ethmoid tumors are treated by surgery followed by radiotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and outcome of radionecrosis of frontal lobe and determine preventive measures. Retrospective study of ethmoid malignancies treated from 2000 to 2011. All patients underwent surgery with/without anterior skull base resection using endoscopic or external approaches followed by irradiation (mean dose 64 Gy). Median follow-up was 50 months. Eight of 50 patients (16 %) presented with fronto-basal radionecrosis, connected to duraplasty, with a latent interval of 18.5 months. Although asymptomatic in six, radionecrosis triggered seizures and required surgery in two cases. Survival was not impacted. Risk factors included dyslipidemia, occurrence of epilepsy and dural resection. Radionecrosis may result from the combination of anterior skull base resection and radiotherapy for the treatment of ethmoid malignancies. Preventive measures rely on improving the duraplasty and optimization of the Gy-dose delivery.

Vestibular schwannoma and cell-phones. Results, limits and perspectives of clinical studies.

The widespread development of cell-phones entails novel user exposure to electromagnetic fields. Health impact is a public health issue and a source of anxiety in the population. Some clinical studies reported an association between cell and cordless phone use and vestibular schwannoma; others found none. A systematic review was performed of all published clinical studies (cohort, registry, case-control and validation studies), with analysis of results, to determine the nature of the association and the level of evidence. Cohort studies were inconclusive due to short exposure durations and poor representativeness. Registry studies showed no correlation between evolution of cell-phone use and incidence of vestibular schwannoma. Case-control studies reported contradictory results, with methodological flaws. Only a small number of subjects were included in long-term studies (>10 years), and these failed to demonstrate any indisputable causal relationship. Exposure assessment methods were debatable, and long-term assessment was lacking. An on-going prospective study should determine any major effect of electromagnetic fields; schwannoma being a rare pathology, absence of association will be difficult to prove. No clinical association has been demonstrated between cell and cordless phone use and vestibular schwannoma. Existing studies are limited by their retrospective assessment of exposure.

[Inhalation therapy: provocation tests, infectious risks, acute bronchiolitis and ENT diseases. GAT aerosolstorming, Paris 2011]. / Aérosolthérapie: tests de provocation, risques infectieux, bronchiolites et pathologie ORL. Aérosolstorming du GAT, Paris 2011.

Communications from the 2011 meeting of the GAT are reported in this second article on the practical management of bronchial provocation tests and infectious risks associated with the use of nebulization. Recent advances on the role of nebulized hypertonic saline in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in infants and of the nebulization in sinusal diseases are also reported.

[Nebulized hypertonic saline and acute viral bronchiolitis in infants: current aspects]. / Sérum salé hypertonique nébulisé et bronchiolite aiguë du nourrisson : données actuelles.

Acute viral bronchiolitis affects infants, is frequent, and can be severe. Its treatment is only based on symptoms. Hypertonic saline (HS) may act favorably in this situation by fighting virus-induced dehydration of the airway liquid surface. Because of an osmotic action, HS attracts the water from the epithelial cells and improves mucociliary clearance. Five double-blind placebo-controlled studies concerning hospitalized infants with acute viral bronchiolitis showed that repeated nebulizations of 3% HS induce a 20% improvement in the clinical severity score and reduced the hospital length of stay by 24h. Tolerance is excellent. On the other hand, a few questions remain unresolved: what is the optimal salt concentration? What is the recommended nebulizer? What is the best frequency for nebulizer use? Can nebulized HS be used at home? What are the results with systematic physiotherapy when HS is used?

Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.

Skull base surgery has been transformed by the development of endoscopic techniques. Endoscopic procedures were first used for pituitary surgery and were then gradually extended to other regions. A wide range of diseases are now accessible to endoscopic skull base surgery. The major advantage of the endoscopic endonasal approach is that it provides direct anatomical access to a large number of intracranial and paranasal sinus lesions, avoiding the sequelae of a skin incision, facial bone flap or craniotomy, and brain retraction, which is inevitable with conventional neurosurgical incisions, resulting in decreased morbidity and mortality and, indirectly, decreased length of hospital stay and management costs. Moreover, the increasing number of publications in this field illustrates the growing interest in these techniques. This paper provides a review of endoscopic skull base surgery. The indications and general principles of endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery are described. Progress in exposure and especially reconstruction techniques is described. This progress now allows more extensive resections, while maintaining acceptable morbidity. The limits of this surgery are also discussed; in particular, although this surgery is often described as "minimally invasive", it is not completely devoid of morbidity.

Pulsatile tinnitus and venous cerebral thrombosis: report of a case and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Pulsatile tinnitus can be caused by fatal vascular disease. The authors reported a very rare case of pulsatile tinnitus that revealed a sigmoid sinus thrombosis. CASE REPORT: A 43-years-old man was referred to our department for a left pulsatile tinnitus that had lasted for 2 years. The CT angiography and the MRI retrieved a sigmoid sinus thrombosis that was responsible for emissary vein ectasis. The biological check up was normal. The tinnitus disappeared after two months of anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Ten cases of pulsatile tinnitus associated with cerebral venous thrombosis have been published in the literature. In most of cases, pulsatile tinnitus was the only symptom. Few cases of headache, hearing loss and vertigo were described in association with the tinnitus. In 5 cases a cause was retrieved (hemostasis troubles, head injury and dural arteriovenous fistulas). Full recovery can be obtained for nearly all cases as a result of anticoagulation.

[The ultra-rapid cinematography of the larynx, its contributions in speech pathology]. / La cinématographie ultra rapide du larynx, ses apports en phoniatrie.

The development in the medical field of high speed cinematography and its dissemination in the field of speech pathology will probably change the way we view the larynx and diagnose its disorders. So far only the stroboscope could inform us about the appearance of vocal cord vibration but with certain limitations. Indeed the wave motion of the vocal cords is really only apparent motion. It is made possible through the phenomenon of retinal persistence of images and light intermittent vocal folds set to the frequency of the voice and out of phase by a few Hertz. This technique has several disadvantages: The need for the voice to trigger the strobe light; a low number of frames per second (25 fps) recorded; frame loss for the period between unlit two flashes; limitation in the study of the upper voice spectrum (gearing). The ultra-rapid cinematography brings a big difference in design since the digital recording can shoot up to 4000 frames per second with permanent lighting of the larynx. The slow reading of short sequences permits us to view the actual movement of vibrating structures, and to analyze the behavior of the vibrator during the transitional phases of the attack, depreciation and termination of sound. The footage in high resolution permits a detailed analysis of the movements of opening and closing of the vocal cords in phonation and respiration, and the diagnosis of lesions.

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for cholesterol granulomas involving the petrous apex.

Surgery for cholesterol granulomas involving the petrous apex has traditionally been performed via a lateral skull base approach. We present a case-series of four cholesterol granulomas treated through the endoscopic-transsphenoid approach over the last 10 years. Drainage was successful and symptomatic improvement was obtained in all cases (follow-up 6 months-10 years). Primary 'sphenoid' lesions, which can be widely drained and remain marsupialised, should be differentiated from primary 'petrous' lesions that can be removed safely through the sphenoid sinus only in case of extension medial to the internal carotid artery (ICA). We feel that the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is a safe and effective way to access cholesterol granulomas of the petrous apex.

[Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is not, at this time, an otologic emergency]. / La surdité brusque idiopathique n'est pas, aujourd'hui, une urgence sensorielle.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of the treatment delay for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) on the final hearing recovery and the prognostic value of the audiometric shapes and the hearing recovery at the end of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study including 321 patients admitted in the emergency care center for a recent idiopathic SSHL. Classification according to the audiometric shape in 5 types. All patients received steroids (1 mg/kg per day) and, in case of ascending shape, steroids and mannitol during 6 days. Hearing recovery was evaluated according to the following parameters: 1) hearing recovery (initial PTA-PTA at D6 or D30); 2) incidence of hearing recovery (initial PTA-PTA at D6 or D30)/initial PTA x 100%). RESULTS: Whatever the audiometric type, delay in initiating treatment did not have any influence on the final outcome. Audiometric classification had a good prognostic value, since the ascending shape had a better hearing recovery than descending shape or the sub or total anacusis. Hearing recovery at D6 is a prognostic factor on the final outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic SSHL cannot be considered, nowadays, as an otologic emergency.

[Seromucous otitis]. / Les otites séromuqueuses.

OBJECTIVES: Otitis media with effusion are defined as the persistence of middle ear effusion for more than 3 weeks. If the diagnostic is easy, questions remain about pathogeny and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature was reviewed regarding the pathogeny and the best treatment strategy. RESULTS: Except in the case of middle ear effusion due to trauma, effusion is an exudate due to mucous cell metaplasia. The main causal factor is middle ear inflammation, which is secondary to viral or bacterial infection. Inflammation causes dysfunction of the sodium transports in the middle ear. Responsibility of the otitis media with effusion in the genesis of the various chronic otitis media remains controversial. Treatment is justified when otitis media last more than 3 months, that is to say few months observation is required. The aim of treatment is to reduce local inflammation and to treat effusion. Prevention and treatment of local inflammation is difficult. Indeed, it is difficult to avoid rhinitis that is mainly viral. Effusion must be treated in order to avoid local middle ear deterioration and language deficiency. Insertion of tympanostomy tube is the only effective treatment. It decreases middle ear depression and Eustachian tube obstruction and restores the mucociliary clearance. Adenoidectomy and amygdalectomy are not effective in otitis media with effusion but, in association with tympanostomy tube, could decrease recurrence of acute otitis media. CONCLUSION: Otitis media with effusion remains a frequent disorder, for which the only effective treatment is the tympanostomy tube.

Vertebrobasilar occlusive disorders presenting as sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: Isolated sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) has been rarely related to vertebrobasilar occlusive disorders (VBOD). This is an important issue for both neurologists and otolaryngologists, since the management and prognosis of this type of hearing loss widely differs from that of hearing loss from other causes. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical characteristics and report the incidence of SSHL related to VBOD. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical charts from 333 patients admitted for SSHL in a large ear, nose, and throat emergency tertiary care center from 1999 to 2002. RESULTS: Four cases (1.2%) of VBOD as the unique cause of SSHL were diagnosed among 333 patients. The most typical features of these cases were the presence of one of the following characteristics: (1) bilateral SSHL, (2) associated occipital or posterior nuchal pain, and (3) the occurrence of delayed neurologic deficits. The underlying vascular disease affected the vertebral arteries: dissection in two cases and atherosclerosis in two other cases. The audiometric features of hearing loss were endocochlear in one case, of both types in one case, and unknown in two cases. Hearing recovered partially or completely. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the low incidence of SSHL related to VBOD and show that the observation of endocochlear audiometric features cannot preclude a central cause in SSHL. The clinical presentation of our cases related to VBOD emphasize that a careful follow-up of any patient with SSHL is warranted and that the presence of nuchal pain suggestive of arterial dissection in younger subjects, a past history of atherosclerosis or embolism in older patients, or the occurrence of delayed associated neurologic symptoms should be considered with particular caution in this situation.

[Endoscopic resection of the frontal sinus floor following the Draf procedure: long term results and therapeutic algorithm]. / Résection endoscopique du plancher du sinus frontal selon la technique de Draf. Résultats à long terme et algorithme thérapeutique.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic resection of the frontal sinus floor is a minimally invasive and functional surgical procedure designed for the treatment of inflammatory sinus diseases, which avoids the side-effects of external osteoplastic obliteration. The aim of the study was to evaluate long term results and to determine computed tomographic criteria predictive of success. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study reports the results of 20 patients operated for nasofrontal stenosis associated or not with osteitis or secondary mucocele. RESULTS: A successful result was obtained in 90% with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. Failures (2) were attributed to insufficient resection and to frontal sinus osteogenesis. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic frontal sinusotomy is a safe and effective procedure for large sinuses with large distance between nasion and cribriform plate, but not in case of osteogenesis and multiple mucoceles. In case of unfavourable anatomy, or for the aforementioned pathologies, the obliteration procedure should be preferred.