Management of the Nasal Valve in Facial Paralysis.

Facial paralysis significantly impacts the form and function of patients. Assessment of the face in zones is important to ensure no functional area of the face is neglected. Nasal valve compromise in patients with facial paralysis, for example, is often overlooked yet should be addressed to correct nasal obstruction.

Healthcare Disparities in Otolaryngology.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to summarize some of the recent research studies on healthcare disparities across various subspecialties within otolaryngology. This review also highlights the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on disparities and proposes potential interventions to mitigate disparities.

Recent Findings: Significant healthcare disparities in care and treatment outcomes have been reported across all areas of otolaryngology.

Health Utility Measures Among Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia After Hair Transplant.

Background: Hair loss causes significant psychosocial distress to patients. Health utility measurements offer an objective, quantitative assessment of health-related quality of life (QOL).

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study on patients with hair loss between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020.

Strategies to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Surgical Workforce: A State of the Art Review.

Objective: To evaluate strategies to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the surgical workforce among trainees and faculty across surgical specialties.

Data Sources: Embase, OVID/Medline, and Web of Science Core Collection.

Review Methods: A review of US-based, peer-reviewed articles examining the effect of targeted strategies on racial and ethnic diversity in the surgical workforce was conducted from 2000 to 2020 with the PRISMA checklist and STROBE tool.

The Impact of Component Dorsal Hump Reduction on Patient-Perceived Nasal Aesthetics and Obstruction in Rhinoplasty.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate functional and aesthetic patient-reported outcomes using validated metrics after component dorsal hump reduction (DHR) with spreader graft placement, which have not been previously reported.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care medical center.

An equity-based narrative review of barriers to timely postoperative radiation therapy for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: The majority of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) do not commence postoperative radiation treatment (PORT) within the recommended 6 weeks. We explore how delayed PORT affects survival outcomes, what factors are associated with delayed PORT initiation, and what interventions exist to reduce delays in PORT initiation.

Methods: We conducted a PubMed search to identify articles discussing timely PORT for HNSCC.

Comparative Effectiveness of Cartilage Grafts in Functional Rhinoplasty for Nasal Sidewall Collapse.

To compare the patient-reported outcomes among patients with nasal obstruction undergoing two rhinoplasty techniques to a control group. Prospective longitudinal study in a university-based tertiary care medical center. All patients undergoing functional septorhinoplasty for correction of lateral wall insufficiency between October 2015 and March 2019 were included;  = 704, mean age (standard deviation) 39.

PAK1 inhibition reduces tumor size and extends the lifespan of mice in a genetically engineered mouse model of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2).

Neurofibromatosis Type II (NF2) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome in which germline haploinsufficiency at the NF2 gene confers a greatly increased propensity for tumor development arising from tissues of neural crest derived origin. NF2 encodes the tumor suppressor, Merlin, and its biochemical function is incompletely understood. One well-established function of Merlin is as a negative regulator of group A serine/threonine p21-activated kinases (PAKs).

Sparked by Tragedy: A Movement to End Systemic Racism in Health Care.

This commentary emphasizes health disparities related to systemic racism, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides recommendations to mitigate these disparities, including increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the surgical workforce.

AHNS endocrine surgery section consensus statement on nasopharyngolaryngoscopy and clinic reopening during COVID-19: How to get back to optimal safe care.

This article provides best practice guidelines regarding nasopharyngolaryngoscopy and OHNS clinic reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to provide evidence-based recommendations defining the risks of COVID-19 in clinic, the importance of pre-visit screening in addition to testing, along with ways to adhere to CDC guidelines for environmental, source, and engineering controls.

Management of the Embedded Tracheoesophageal Prosthesis: Retrograde Removal and Replacement.

Objective: To describe the retrograde removal of a tracheoesophageal (TE) prosthesis embedded in the common wall between the trachea and esophagus with preservation of the original tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) tract with subsequent placement of new tracheoesophageal prosthesis for voice restoration.

Methods: The Blom-Singer TEP Set (InHealth Technologies, Carpinteria, CA) was used to facilitate this procedure. The coated wire leader cable was threaded through the small opening in the posterior tracheal wall and into the lumen of the old TE prosthesis.

Role of physician density in predicting stage and survival for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Identifying and linking barriers to access to head and neck cancer care, specifically provider density, to stage of diagnosis and survival outcomes is important to serve as a foundation for policy interventions.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using patients with head and neck squamous cell (HNSCC) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2007 to 2016 and Area Resource File. Primary outcomes included stage of presentation and cancer-specific 5-year survival and relation to provider density.

Assessment of Gender Differences in Clinical Productivity and Medicare Payments Among Otolaryngologists in 2017.

Importance: Women comprise an increasing proportion of the otolaryngology workforce. Prior studies have demonstrated gender-based disparity in physician practice and income in other clinical specialties; however, research has not comprehensively examined whether gender-based income disparities exist within the field of otolaryngology.

Objective: To determine whether diversity of practice, clinical productivity, and Medicare payment differ between male and female otolaryngologists and whether any identified variation is associated with practice setting.

Self-compounded Doxycycline Sclerotherapy for the Treatment of Lymphatic Malformations in Low-Resource Settings.

Background: Congenital anomalies are one component of the overwhelming surgical disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are a common congenital deformity of the head and neck in which the utilization of sclerotherapy may avoid surgery and yield superior outcomes. To be useful in LMICs, sclerosing agents must be widely available, inexpensive, and effective.

Bioabsorbable Microplates as an External Stent for Suprastomal Collapse: A Retrospective Review.

Objective/hypothesis: To assess the long-term decannulation outcomes of bioresorbable microplates as an external stent for pediatric tracheostomy patients with suprastomal collapse.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Hospital records of all patients who underwent a bioresorbable microplate for suprastomal collapse from 2016 to 2019 were reviewed at a single institution.

Cognitive and Quality of Life-Related Burdens of Illness in Pediatric Allergic Airway Disease.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of pediatric allergic airway disease (PAA) and recognize its impact on cognitive function, childhood activities, use of early intervention, and missed school days.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2014 to 2017.

Setting: US households.

Ketotifen Modulates Mast Cell Chemotaxis to Kit-Ligand, but Does Not Impact Mast Cell Numbers, Degranulation, or Tumor Behavior in Neurofibromas of -Deficient Mice.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common genetic tumor predisposition syndromes in humans. Mutant results in dysregulated RAS allowing neoplasms throughout the neuroaxis. Plexiform neurofibromas (pNF) afflict up to 50% of patients with NF1.