A prospective non-randomized study was designed to investigate the effects of Celon® radio-frequency thermo-ablation (RFTA) of the soft palate in patients with snoring/mild obstructive sleep apnoea. Ten patients, fulfilling various inclusion/exclusion criteria, underwent single operator sub-mucosal RFTA palatoplasty as an office procedure. Two separate procedures six weeks apart involved each patient receiving six distinct sub-mucosal lesions on each visit. Questionnaires including visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to evaluate post-operative pain and subjective snoring (scored by patient/partner). Polysomnography (PSG) was performed pre-operation and three months following the second procedure. Using non-parametric statistical analysis, a significant reduction in VAS snoring was noted from initial levels to those scored at six and 16 weeks in nine of 10 patients (p = 0.013 and p = 0.007 respectively). (Five of these nine showed a greater than 50 per cent reduction in score). Objectively, six of 10 patients had a reduction in the apnoea-hypopnea Index between the two PSGs, (four of these six showed a greater than 50 per cent reduction) however, this was not statistically significant. Subjective assessment of the PSG snoring signal by the senior author showed eight of 10 patients had either a reduced or much reduced signal at four months. VAS pain confirmed both procedures are well tolerated with minimal analgesia requirements. Minor complaints of transient mild palatal swelling, dry throat, catarrh and referred otalgia were noted and one patient developed mucosal ulceration following both procedures that healed within three weeks. Swallowing and speech were unaffected. These results confirm similar findings using the Somnus® Unit, although the Celon® device provides additional advantages ncluding inherent safety in a bipolar electrode tip, auto-stop energy application and reduced procedure time.

We report a case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) originating from the eustachian tube and middle ear. A 31-year-old male who presented with otorrhoea and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the right ear was admitted to hospital due to cerebral infarction and deep vein thrombosis. After recovery, biopsies from a granulomatous mass found in the middle ear during operation for chro ic otitis media revealed intermediate-grade MEC and a nasopharyngeal mass identified after surgery also revealed the same result. He received combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy and no residual or recurrent tumour was detected after two years of follow-up.

Successful results of genioglossus advancement and hyoid myotomy with suspension (GAHM) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have been reported. However, there have been few studies of long-term results. Forty-six patients with hypopharyngeal obstruction underwent GAHM. Patients had a mean age of 40.1 ± 4.2 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.9 ± 2.1 kg/m2. The mean follow-up was 39.4 ± 5.7 monthswith a range of 37 to 46 months. The mean pre-operative RDI, short-term RDI, and long-term RDI were 47.9 ± 8.4, 14.2 ± 3.9, 18.6 ± 4.1, respectively. The mean post-operative LSAT, short-term LSAT, and long-term LSAT were 81.2 per cent ± 2.9 per cent, 88.8 per cent ± 2.7 per cent and 87.2 per cent ± 3.1 per cent, respectively. The changein BMI was significantly different in the patients with, and without, recurrence (2.1 ± 0.3 vs 0.4 ± 0.2.kg/m2, <0.05). Thirty (65.2 per cent) patientshad long-term clinical success, and six (16.7 per cent) patients with short-term success failedlong-term. GAHM appears to be an effective procedure and results in long-term success. However,patients with weight gain are at risk of recurrence.

Air bag safety systems have significantly reduced the number of occupant injuries from road traffic accidents (RTA). However air bag deployment is also associated with unavoidable risks.

We report the acoustic trauma incurred by a young female driver who was a heavy smoker as a consequence of air-bag deployment in a low speed RTA and the sparing of her child seated in the rear.

The first report of a patient with metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma of the skin surrounding the abutment of a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) is presented. Complications of bone anchored hearing implantation have been well documented to date. We present a 68-year-old lady who presented with an unusual skin lesion surrounding the abutment of her BAHA. This was the first presentation of her bronchogenic tumour.

We also review the literature regarding cutaneous metastasis and complications of BAHA.

Endaural incisions provide a cosmetic approach to the middle-ear cleft, tympanic membrane for myringoplasty, and attic and antrum for small cavity mastoidectomy. These wounds have traditionally been closed with sutures, but platelet or fibrin adhesives provide an alternative. However, discomfort at the time of suture removal, particularly in children, and the risk of transmission of blood-borne infections in gels are limitations to these wound closure techniques. This paper describes our experience with Histoacryl® glue (butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) in closing endaural incisions.

Sphenoid sinus mucocele is an infrequent but well-recognized entity in sinus pathology. The symptoms produced by it are related to the anatomical surroundings of the sphenoid sinus. We describe a case of sphenoid sinus mucocele presenting with ipsilateral oculomotor nerve palsy 10 years after endoscopic sphenoidotomy. The patient underwent emergency endoscopic decompression of the sphenoid sinus with marsupialization of the mucocele, resulting in immediate remission of his symptoms. We conclude that the otorhinolaryngologist should be aware of such a potential complication when counselling the patient prior to endoscopic sinus surgery.

Various materials have been used up to the present time in vocal fold augmentation. Although silicon has been the most frequently employed, the surgical difficulties encountered in shaping, positioning and placing this material have led to a search for a more easily applicable material. In our study, we investigated the local tissue reaction to implants in the laryngeal skeleton of 10 New Zealand rabbits in which we performed medialization laryngoplasty employing polyethylene terephthalate (PETP = Dacron®) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE = Gore-Tex®). When the local host tissue reaction to PETP and e-PTFE were compared, PETP was found to cause significant foreign body giant cell and histiocyte infiltration localized around fibres of the implant. The greater irregularity of the fibrous capsule formed in response to PETP and the density of foreign body giant cells around the PETP fibres suggested that resorption of the implant with time would decrease the degree of medialization.

A 20-year-old woman developed gross surgical emphysema tracking down to the chest after an episode of nose blowing. Fortunately there were no ocular complications and the patient settled with conservative management. Follow-up showed no recurrence. The case presented illustrates the very rare complication of orbital fracture following nose blowing.

Solitary fibrous tumours are rare neoplasms, which occur most frequently during adulthood at the level of the pleura. Recently, these tumours have been demonstrated in extraserosal sites such as the nasal cavity. A case of a solitary fibrous tumour arising at the level of the ethmoid and presenting in a 54-year-old woman, is reported. The tumour was removed using an endonasal endoscopic approach that permitted the monobloc excision of the lesion. The patient is without evidence of disease 18 months after surgery.

The case of a five year old boy who presented with a lower motor neurone facial nerve palsy secondary to primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) of the middle ear is discussed. Any child who presents with a facial nerve palsy and conductive hearing loss requires thorough evaluation to exclude the possibility of temporal bone malignancy.

This paper describes a technique for managing a preauricular abscess that allows drainage of the pus, with little or no disturbance to the underlying sinus, making any subsequent surgery more straight forward.

Helical rim defects are noticeable and may well need reconstruction, especially in men. A method for reconstructing this type of defect together with primary donor site closure by Z-plasty is described.

To close partial helical rim defects, a retroauricular caudally based rotational skin flap is performed to cover a conchal cartilage graft from the same ear that is harvested first and sutured into place to remodel the helical rim. To primarily close the donor site defect a retroauricular Z-plasty was developed which easily allowed primary closure of the donor site.

The technique described here is straightforward, safe and reproducible. The Z-plasty approach for closing the donor site is useful, since the slight disturbance of the hairline is well hidden retroauricularly. This technique can be considered as a single-stage repair modality for the reconstruction of helical rim defects within primary donor site closure.

Four consecutive female patients (age: 14–47 years) with laryngeal amyloidosis, treated with endoscopic CO2-laser surgery, entered the study. All patients underwent periodic microlaryngoscopies following surgery to confirm the adequacy of the surgical resection. Recurrences or suspected lesions were resected and fibrin deposits were removed to prevent the formation of synechiae or healing adhesions. After two negative microlaryngoscopies, performed two months apart, the patients were followed-up approximately every six months over a period from six months to 18 years, with no evidence of recurrences. The endoscopic CO2-laser technique is highly effective in the treatment of localized laryngeal amyloidosis.

Identification of the pathogen is crucial for the selection of an appropriate antibiotic in the management of sinusitis. We describe an original instrument that provides contamination-free culture from the sinus in endoscopic sinus surgery.

This study analysed the number of patients admitted with diphtheria to a teaching hospital in the state of Assam in India over a period of five years and compared the disease characteristics and management with outcomes and incidences of diphtheria reported in the literature. It was a retrospective analysis of data elicited from clinical records of patients admitted to hospital.

A total of 101 admissions were recorded during a five-year period between March 1997 to March 2002, mostly with pharyngeal diphtheria (90 per cent). The majority of patients had no history of immunization (70 per cent). Significant presenting features were a tonsillar patch, sore throat, respiratory distress and fever. All patients were treated with anti-diphtheritic serum and intravenous antibiotics. Steroids were given to 81 per cent of patients and tracheostomy was carried out in 10 per cent of cases. The mortality was 16 per cent.

Diphtheria of the respiratory tract remains a potentially fatal disease commonly presenting with membranous pharyngitis. Early diagnosis and treatment with anti-diphtheritic serum and antibiotics remain the cornerstone of treatment. Inadequate immunization cover is deemed responsible for the continued menace of diphtheria.

The diagnosis and management of a patient with a sloughing otitis externa thought to be necrotizing fasciitis is described. The clinical characteristics of this condition, diagnostic difficulties faced and a brief literature review are presented.

The authors present a technique for emergency management of a tracheo-brachiocephalic artery fistula.

Keratosis obturans is a rare condition characterized by the accumulation of desquamated keratin material in the bony portion of the external auditory canal. Classically, it is reported to present with severe otalgia, conductive deafness and global widening of the canal. A case of keratosis obturans is described in which the principal symptom was a metallic taste and the main finding was extensive erosion of the hypotympanum with exposure of the facial nerve and the annulus of the tympanic membrane. This presenting symptom and resorption pattern are atypical of keratosis obturans and have not been documented previously.

Lymphangiomas are rare benign lymphatic tumours found predominantly in the head and neck region. A case of a cavernous lymphangioma isolated to the sphenoid sinus is described. The authors emphasize the extreme rarity of the isolated sphenoid lymphangioma, as to their knowledge this is the first report in the English literature.