Journal Reviews
Swahili speech development in pre-school children
This study describes the speech development of 24 typically developing first language Swahili speaking children between the ages of three and five years 11 months in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and was motivated by the 2013 position paper drafted by...
Perceptions in facial ageing
A determinant of a youthful face is based on how facial aesthetic units flow together. Facial ageing results in surface and subsurface structural changes. These factors contribute to the position of bony landmarks, formation of wrinkles and lines and variability...
Scalp reconstruction a new algorithm
Reconstruction of the scalp after acquired defects remains a common challenge for the reconstructive surgeon, especially in light of a history of radiation to the area. Wound healing by secondary intention or with a wound vacuum assisted closure are viable...
Microvascular surgery - does size matter
Success rates for microvascular free tissue transfer performed for head and neck reconstruction are currently very high. As the recipient vessel diameter decreases, questions of reliability and ease of access are raised. This retrospective analysis looked at 89 flaps in...
Depth of invasion of oral cancer should be incorporated in new AJCC staging system
Since 1977, when the first edition of the Manual for Staging of Cancer was published by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), the primary tumour staging for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has remained unchanged. In the last four...
Clinicopathological features of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma
The follicular variant (FV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is characterised by the presence of nuclear features of PTC together with a follicular growth pattern. It is currently reported to make up 11.8% to 53.3% of all PTC cases. It...
Factors affecting hearing aid recommendations
There is a wide variety of hearing instruments available to the hearing impaired. Hearing care professionals are often confronted with making decisions on which to recommend based on audiometric and non-audiometric parameters (e.g. vision, manual dexterity and vanity). The factors...
Speech audiometry tests in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment
This paper caught my eye because, with our ageing population, mild cognitive impairment and dementia are a major, growing problem. We know that ageing causes a multitude of medical and social issues. So it seems wise to investigate the effects...
Adjuvant intratympanic steroid therapy in sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) means abrupt hearing loss by 30dB affecting three consecutive frequencies within 72 hours. This is treated by high tapering doses of systemic steroids, the role of which is controversial and fraught with possible complications in...
Peritonsillar abscess - an indication for tonsillectomy?
Extension of infection beyond the tonsil results in a peritonsillar abscess and is a frequent emergency presentation in otolaryngology. In many places one episode of peritonsillar abscess is not considered an indication for emergency or interval tonsillectomy and future episodes...
Endoscopic findings and prediction of outcome in unilateral vocal cord paralysis
Unilateral vocal cord paralysis which is not due to irreversible causes such as malignancy, systemic disease or trauma varies considerably in terms of full recovery and restoration of voice. Usually electromyography is used to make possible predictions, but this facility...
Hearing aids or grommets for children with OME?
Otitis media with effusion is a highly prevalent condition in children and recurrence often occurs after surgical treatment with grommets. Repeated grommet insertion has its own problems of infection, perforation and scarring of the tympanic membranes, and continuity of providing...
