Microdebrider for reduction of inferior turbinate: evaluation of effectiveness by computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The microdebrider has been widely used in rhinologic surgery in the last few years, and there are reports on its use for inferior turbinate reduction. Computed tomography (CT) is commonly employed to show the reduction in the inferior turbinate after surgery; however, measurements on the scans are rarely made. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A tertiary research and training hospital. METHODS: We investigated the effectiveness of microdebrider reduction in inferior turbinate hypertrophy in 12 turbinates of 9 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean bone thicknesses were measured in CT in the anterior and middle portions of the inferior turbinates as an objective parameter. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale scores for symptoms and endoscopic grading of the inferior turbinates were also used. RESULTS: In the postoperative period, visual analogue scale scores for nasal obstruction decreased significantly. Endoscopic grading revealed that the inferior turbinates were significantly smaller in the postoperative period. Postoperative mean bone thicknesses measured in CT in the anterior and the middle portions of the inferior turbinates were significantly smaller than the preoperative ones; however, there was no significant difference between the measurements of the medial and lateral soft tissue thicknesses. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest microdebrider turbinate surgery as a reliable alternative method for inferior turbinate reduction, especially in case of hypertrophy of the turbinate bone. Measurement of the inferior turbinate size in paranasal CT is a useful objective method for evaluation of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy and the assessment of the surgical outcomes.

The extent and levels of tinnitus in children of central Ankara.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the presence and prevalence of tinnitus among primary school and junior high school students in central Ankara. METHODS: In the first stage of the study, all students were tested for the presence of tinnitus by answering a comprehensive questionnaire. The students who had previous ear operations were excluded from the rest of the study. The initial survey/tests yielded presence of tinnitus, frequency of occurrence, characteristics, associated symptoms and the age groups. RESULTS: 15.1% of the children reported to have tinnitus. No significant difference was found between gender (female 45.5%, male 54.4%) and ears (right 25.3%, left 25.5%). The age group that suffered most from tinnitus is 14 years old (20.8%), 25 children had positive family history (16.2%), 44 children had headaches as the most common accompanying symptom (28.6%), 64 of them had tiredness as the predisposing factor (41.6%) and 52 of them have defined worsening of tinnitus during mornings (33.8%). The characteristics of tinnitus were identified as high pitch (n=125, 81.2%), soft loudness (n=124, 80.5%) and ringing (n=61, 39.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The study produced much needed data to shed light onto understanding levels and characteristics of tinnitus in school children in Turkey. The data obtained was carefully analyzed and found to be comparative to international studies.

[Microbiology of the external auditory canal in patients with asteatosis and itching]. / Asteatosis ve kasintili hastalarda dis kulak yolu mikrobiyolojisi.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the microbiology of the external auditory canal in patients with asteatosis and itching and evaluated the efficacy of topical 2% alcohol and boric acid solution in patients with normal flora. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bacteriological and mycological cultures were obtained from 76 ears of 45 patients (36 females, 9 males; mean age 41.8 years; range 17 to 66 years) presenting with normal otoscopic findings and no history of ear diseases. Treatment protocols were planned according to the culture results. Patients with normal flora were administered topical 2% alcohol and boric acid solution to relieve itching. RESULTS: Cultures yielded normal flora in 65 ears (85.5%), bacterial pathogenic flora in 10 ears (13.1%), and mycosis in one ear (1.3%). Complaints of itching decreased significantly following treatment with alcohol and boric acid solution in patients with normal flora (p<0.05). No correlation was detected between age and the severity of itching (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite normal otoscopic findings, external auditory canal cultures may show pathogenic colonization in patients with asteatosis. Topical administration of alcohol and boric acid solution seems to relieve itching in patients with normal flora.