Surgical correction of alar collapse with alar batten graft: technique and results

Background: nasal valve collapse has great perception of nasal obstruction. The alar batten graft technique has proven to be a valid method for treatment of external and internal valve collapse. Aim: the aim of the present study was to evaluate a two year experience and follow up for external nasal valve collapse treatment using alar batten graft technique regarding results and complications

Patients and Methods: this prospective study was carried out on 18 patients attended the ENT and Plastic Surgery outpatient clinics of Al-Azhar University hospitals from January, 2014 to January 2016. Written consent was taken from every patient. All patients were complaining of nasal obstruction of gradual onset and progressive course with 7 years average. All patients were subjected to detailed history taking and questionnaire including the NOSE scale. Surgical correction was performed to all patients using the alar batten graft harvested from the septa cartilage or conchal cartilage. Postoperative results recorded in relation to subjective sensation of nasal obstruction and aesthetic appearance of the nose

Results: eleven patients [61.1%] were males and seven [38.9%] were females. Their age ranged from 18 to 45 years with a mean of 32+/-2. Bilateral obstruction was found in 33.3% of cases and unilateral obstruction in 66.7% of cases. There were 22.2%, 27.8%, and 50.0% of the cases had moderate, fair, and severe obstruction, respectively. Postoperatively, these figures were changed to no obstruction77.8% [P=0.0], mild 0.0%, moderate 11.1%, fair 11.1%, and sever 0.0%[P=0.0005]. The technique significantly abolishes the severe nasal obstruction. Postoperative complications include 1 case with graft resorption [4.2%] and 1 case of graft displacement [4.2%]. Both were improved on subsequent surgery. Regarding postoperative findings there was tenderness and hypertrophic postauricular scar in 5.5% of patient and nasal tip edema in 22.2%, all resolved. In the early postoperative period, 33.3% of patients complained of fullness in the supraalar region

Conclusion: Successful surgical correction of nasal obstruction requires the precise diagnosis of the anatomic point of collapse. Alar batten graft improves the rigidity of lower lateral cartilage preventing collapse of the lateral nasal wall preventing collapse during moderate and deep inspiration. The graft varies according to the severity of the obstruction and size of the collapsible area of the lateral nasal wall. The septal cartilage is usually sufficient. The technique significantly improves nasal breathing

Cleft palate repair with velopharyngeal sphincter reconstruction modified simple procedure

Velopharyngeal sphincter reconstruction and oronasal fistula during cleft palat repair is still a matter of challenge to pediatric and ENT surgeons. To improve results of surgical treatment of cleft palate and secondary velopharyngeal incompetence a simple modified procedure for palatoplasty and velopharyngeal sphincter reconstruction is made.: Thirty three patients with cleft palate[26 primary and 7 recurrent were corrected by this procedure from April 2005 to April 2010.In this procedure the well mobilized palatal muscles allow good repair for the nasal layer, and its medial rotation give push back and increases the length of well functioning soft palate, with narrowing of the velopharyngeal isthmus. The modifications in the nasal layer repair prevent the oronasal fistula and elongate the nasal posterior which reduces the velopharyngeal isthmus. All corrected patients showed good results, with no recurrence, no post-operative fistulae, with accepted phonation pattern for all Arabic alphabetic and no nasal regurgitation need for further pharyngoplasty

Health risk behaviors among students in a private university in Egypt

Many young adults participate in risk behaviors that threaten their current and future health. The aim of this study was to measure prevalence of health risk behaviors among students in a private university in Egypt [Misr University for Science and Technology] and factors related to such behaviors. A total of 1200 students from the Misr University for Science and Technology were enrolled for the study. An anonymous self administered questionnaire was designed based on items questions from the Youth Health Risk Behavior Surveillance survey questionnaire used by the CDC. The questionnaire was translated in Arabic and pilot tested before its use. The questionnaire covered violence related behaviors, smoking, alcohol and other illicit drug use, nutritional behaviors and exercise. The majority of the students were at risk in terms of driving while not wearing seat belt. Seriously considered attempting suicide had high prevalence [8%]. Cigarettes smoking had a prevalence of 18% in males compared to 12% in female students. Also, female students showed high prevalence of alcohol and marijuana use. Overweight and obesity were prevalent in 43.7% of the students and lack of exercise was reported in 92% of them. Overweight and obesity were more prevalent among Egyptian students while engaging in physical fight and alcohol intake were more prevalent among non-Egyptians. Students at this private university had high prevalence of smoking. The female students showed high prevalence of smoking, alcohol and marijuana usage. Most of the students are at health risk of overweight and obesity as well lack of exercise

Audiometric study among carpenters

The aim of this study was to investigate the hearing threshold among a group of 60 carpenters, exposed to saw machine noise and impulse noise of nail hammering. The study has been carried out at ATICO Factory for furniture at Abou-Zaabal. It has been found that the maximum impairment of hearing of the exposed workers was at the 6 KHz. No statistcally significant difference could be found between the hearing threshold of the exposed workers and the control group. However, there ia a considerable permanent shift in their hearing threshold. This may be due to the short duration of the exposure [5 years], the intermittent nature of the exposure [about 20 minutes per working hour], or relatively not high level of noise