Is Adenotonsillar Size a Significant Factor on Voice in Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adenotonsillar size is a significant determinant of voice in children who have undergone adenotonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Ear Nose Throat Clinic, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, from July 2017 to June 2018. METHODOLOGY: A total of 57 patients, who have been diagnosed with chronic adenotonsillitis and operated for obstruction or infection, were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to their palatine tonsil sizes. Each patient performed voice analysis preoperatively and one month postoperatively, recruiting both objective and subjective methods. F0, jitter % and shimmer % values were assessed with objective methods; while subjective methods evaluated pediatric voice handicap index (pVHI) scores. Pre- and post-operative F0, jitter % and shimmer % values and pVHI scores from each study group were compared. RESULTS: In each study group, pre- and post-operative F0, jitter % and shimmer % values were found to be similar. In Group A, postoperative pVHI scores were found to be significantly reduced (p<0.001). In Group B, however, pre- and postoperatively assessed pVHI scores were similar. CONCLUSION: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children, who underwent adenotonsillectomy, seems to be an important and positively effecting factor on the subjective, but not the objective, parameters of voice.

Results of ossicular chain reconstruction with glass ionomer cement in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to analyze the hearing results of ossicular chain reconstruction in incus long process defects in pediatric patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 15 pediatric patients that had incus long process defect due to chronic otitis media or adhesive otitis, and repaired with glass ionomer cement between 2009 and 2015. The audiological tests (air conduction thresholds, bone conduction thresholds, air bone gap) obtained preoperatively and one year after surgery were compared. In addition, preoperative and postoperative air bone gap differences were estimated to determine hearing gain. RESULTS: Mean air conduction and air bone gaps decreased significantly one year after surgery when compared to the preoperative values (p< 0.001 for both). Mean hearing gain was 20.33±6.36dB one year after surgery. CONCLUSION: Use of glass ionomer cement to repair incus long process defects is a suitable method that improves hearing in pediatric patients. Further large studies that compare glass ionomer cement ossiculoplasty with other ossicular reconstruction methods are needed.