You searched for "future"
N-acetylcysteine may have a role in the protection of cochlear hair cells
Gentamycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic which is widely used throughout the world, despite its ototoxic potential. It therefore seems wise to continue the search for accessible otoprotective agents. The aim of this study was to clarify the potential protective role...
3D printed temporal bones for drilling are here!
It was only a matter of time before the 3D printer was used to help us with simulated temporal bone (TB) drilling. This group printed three paediatric TB models and evaluated their quality. They were found to be of ‘high...
A new free flap for the head and neck?
Reconstruction of major defects in the head and neck is usually an area where maxillofacial or plastic surgery colleagues come to assist, with consideration of the size and function any repair has to fulfil. Whilst the radial forearm free flap...
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...
Coblation versus microdebrider submucosal inferior turbinoplasty
This prospective randomised study from Riyadh compares submucosal coblation and submucosal microdebrider inferior turbinate reduction. Seventy patients were recruited who had failed medical treatment and were undergoing isolated inferior turbinate surgery. Outcome measures included the Friedman score and VAS for...
Clinical evaluation of an image-guided cochlear implant programming strategy
This study ingeniously combines two current areas of active research in cochlear implantation (CI), the first is the use of imaging to assess intra-cochlear electrode position. The second, is the optimisation of a programming strategy to prevent current spread between...
Nasal decongestants don’t improve Eustachian tube function
Prescribing nasal steroids and decongestants. It’s something most of us do routinely, in an effort to reduce chronic middle ear effusion in an adult by trying to improve eustachian tube (ET) patency. This study used clever devices (tube manometry and...
Cochlear implants with an absent or hypoplastic cochlear nerve?
The cornerstone of successful cochlear implantation has been the presence of a population of cochlear nerve endings which are able to mount a neural response to electrical stimulation. The authors of this paper present their experience of five children with...
Resection margins in head and neck surgery
Although an increasing proportion of head and neck malignancies are treated with non-surgical modalities, when surgery is undertaken an incomplete clearance results in significantly worse prognosis. However, the intraoperative assessment of an adequate margin is difficult. The personal practice of...
Office-based intralesional corticosteroids injections for subglottic stenosis. Is it effective?
Subglottic and proximal tracheal stenosis in adults has three main aetiologies: (a) prolonged endotracheal intubation; (b) idiopathic; (C) rheumatologic related. Endoscopic dilation is the mainstay treatment strategy for subglottic and proximal tracheal stenosis. Its major limitation is restenosis requiring repeated...
QOL studies for anterior skull base surgeries
The Anterior Skull Base Nasal Inventory-12 (ASK Nasal-12) is a standard tool for assessment of quality of life (QOL) in patients who have undergone endonasal transsphenoidal surgery. As nasal trauma and rhinological complications following endonasal transsphenoidal surgery can influence QOL,...
