A Case of Facial Palsy Following Tooth Extraction / 대한이비인후과학회지

Facial palsy following tooth extraction is rare and its mechanism is unclear. Possible mechanisms are direct anesthesia of facial nerve, compression and ischemia of facial nerve during edema, neurotoxicity of local anesthetic solution, viral reactivation and ascending infection. Viral reactivation and ascending infection are most likely mechanisms among them. Therefore, it is important to use an antiviral agent combined with steroid for treatment of dental origin facial palsy. We report our recent experience with one case of facial palsy that followed tooth extraction.

Change of Middle Ear Mechanics after Tympanoplasty Type I with Thin Sliced Cartilage Island / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cartilage offers the advantage of higher mechanical stability compared with membranous transplants but it may alter the acoustic transfer characteristics, which could depend on its thickness. So, author attempted to design the thin sliced cartilage island for grafting material by tragal cartilage. The purpose of this study is to understand the usefulness of the thin sliced cartilage technique by comparing with conventional temporalis fascia technique with the method of tympanometry. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From March 2002 to August 2005, 101 cases of tympanoplasty type I using the thin sliced cartilage island technique and 50 cases of tympanoplasty type I using the temporalis fascia performed by one surgeon had been followed up for 6 months and reviewed. Static compliance, tympanometric width and tympanometric pattern were followed up after 6 month. RESULTS: The static compliance in the thin sliced cartilage island technique group was 72% and temporalis fascia group was 66% at normal compliance (0.2-1.6 ml). The tympanometric width in the thin sliced cartilage island technique group was 59% and temporalis fascia group was 54% at normal tympanometric width (60-150 mmH2O). The tympanometric pattern in the thin sliced cartilage island technique group was 67% and temporalis fascia group was 62% at normal tympanometric pattern (A type). CONCLUSION: There is no significant statistical difference between the thin sliced cartilage island and temporalis fascia observed in the impedence audiometry. The thin sliced cartilage island technique is suggested to be good for tympanoplasty.

The Effect of Lesser Palatine Nerve Block on Pain after Pediatric Tonsillectomy / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomized double-blind study was performed to evaluate the analgesic effect of lesser palatine nerve block after pediatric tonsillectomy, and we measured analgesic efficacy and degree of blocks induced by ropivacaine. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Children who weighed 20-40 kg and scheduled for an elective tonsillectomy were randomized into three groups. Patients received lesser palatine nerve block, using divided doses of 0.05 ml/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine (Naropin registered), 5 min prior to the beginning of tonsillectomy (Pre-block group) or immediately after surgery (Post-block group). Patients allocated into the control group did not receive any nerve blocks. Postoperative pain was measured immediately after surgery and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours following the operation by using a 0 to 4 points pain scale, based on a facial expression of pain scale ruler. Side effects and the number of analgesic inductions were observed for 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: No significant differences in the pain scores were observed immediately after surgery and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation in the three group (p>0.05). The number of analgesic injections were similar in the groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal that the lesser palatine nerve block was not effective for postoperative pain control following pediatric tonsillectomy, and that the pre-emptive block offered no pain control benefit over the postoperative block. Therefore, we do not recommend lesser palatine nerve blocks for the management of postoperative pain after pediatric tonsillectomy.