[Experiences of Psychologists and Sport Therapists Conducting Open and Closed Therapy Groups].

Few studies compare differences between open and closed therapy groups. Different characteristics of both formats, which have been theoretically and practically substantiated to date, are presumably responsible for different therapeutically relevant effects. The present analysis documents and analyzes therapists' experiences with both open and closed group formats and provides information relevant to the selection of group format.

Dose development in sinonasal imaging over the last decade - a retrospective patient study.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) has become the primary imaging modality for visualization of the paranasal sinuses. In this retrospective, single center patient study the radiation dose development in the past 12 years in CT imaging of the paranasal sinuses was assessed.

Methods: The computed tomography dose index (CTDI) and dose length product (DLP) of a total of 1246 patients (average age: 41 ± 18 years, 361 females, 885 males) were evaluated, who received imaging of the paranasal sinuses either for chronic sinusitis diagnostic, preoperatively or posttraumatically.

Tin filter compared to low kV protocols - optimizing sinonasal imaging in computed tomography.

Objectives: Paranasal sinus imaging due to chronic inflammatory disease is one of the most common examinations in head and neck radiology with CT imaging considered the current gold standard. In this phantom study we analyzed different low dose CT protocols in terms of image quality, radiation exposure and subjective evaluation in order to establish an optimized scanning protocol.

Methods: In a phantom study, an Alderson phantom was scanned using 12 protocols between 70-120 kV and 25-200 mAs with and without tin filtration.

[Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) in children].

LPRD in children is characterized by symptoms, clinical findings, and sequelae caused by the reflux of gastric acid, bile acid or refluxate containing pepsin beyond the esophagus. For diagnostic procedures and therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children and adults widely accepted guidelines have been established. However, diagnosis and therapy of LPRD in children remains a continuous issue of inter- and intradisciplinary discussions.

Rehabilitation after Total Laryngectomy-A Tribute to the Pioneers of Voice Restoration in the Last Two Centuries.

Background: The most severe consequence of laryngectomy for patients is the loss of their voice. For this reason, voice rehabilitation has been an integral aspect of treatment after total laryngectomy from the very beginning. A wide variety of different technical and surgical approaches are available and reflect the problems associated with the rehabilitation of communication and swallowing after the removal of the larynx.

Influence of Photodynamic Therapy on the Expression of Cancer/Testis Antigens in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a palliative treatment resulting in induction of inflammatory reactions with importance for the development of an antitumor immunity. Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) have been associated with poor prognosis in different types of cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials And Methods: Tumor tissue samples before and after PDT were evaluated for the expression of four different CTAs by immunohistochemistry.

Immunonutrition - the influence of early postoperative glutamine supplementation in enteral/parenteral nutrition on immune response, wound healing and length of hospital stay in multiple trauma patients and patients after extensive surgery.

Introduction: In the postoperative phase, the prognosis of multiple trauma patients with severe brain injuries as well as of patients with extensive head and neck surgery mainly depends on protein metabolism and the prevention of septic complications. Wound healing problems can also result in markedly longer stays in the intensive care unit and general wards. As a result, the immunostimulation of patients in the postoperative phase is expected to improve their immunological and overall health.

The development and treatment of periprosthetic leakage after prosthetic voice restoration. A literature review and personal experience part I: the development of periprosthetic leakage.

In the past 30 years, the use of a voice prosthesis has become the treatment of choice for the restoration of speech following laryngectomy. Not only is the placement of a voice prosthesis a simple surgical procedure, but it is also associated with a low rate of complications and an excellent success rate. Approximately, 20-30 % of all patients with voice prostheses, however, develop periprosthetic leakage with aspiration over time.

The development and treatment of periprosthetic leakage after prosthetic voice restoration: a literature review and personal experience. Part II: conservative and surgical management.

In the past 30 years, the use of voice prostheses has become the gold standard for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy. The placement of a voice prosthesis is a simple procedure that is associated with only a minor increase in operating time and a low rate of complications. Most problems with voice prostheses are minor and can be easily managed.

Treatment of tracheopharyngeal and tracheo-oesophageal fistulas following laryngectomy and fistula classification based on individual silicone casts.

Persistent tracheopharyngeal (TPF) and tracheo-oesophageal (TEF) fistulas after laryngectomy create a therapeutic challenge. The current classification of TPFs and TEFs is based on clinical experience without detailed anatomical information. In this study, casts of TPFs/TEFs were obtained from 16 patients; these were the first steps in manufacturing customised prostheses.

Mandible reconstruction using patient-specific pre-bent reconstruction plates: comparison of standard and transfer key methods.

Purpose: Mandible reconstruction with reconstruction plates requires bending the plates during the operation and fixation using the "standard method" (ST-method). The ST-method is limited when a pathological process has perforated the mandibular outer cortex. A transfer key method (TK-method) was developed where plates are pre-bent using a patient-specific mandible model and positioned on the mandible with the help of transfer keys.

Role of reflux-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in periprosthetic leakage after prosthetic voice rehabilitation.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) contributes to periprosthetic leakage after prosthetic voice rehabilitation. However, underlying mechanisms are unclear, and markers predicting anti-reflux therapy response are missing.

Methods: We assessed epithelial-mesenchymal transition in 148 consecutive biopsies from 44 patients with/without fistula enlargement under dual-probe pH monitoring before and after proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy applying immunohistochemistry.

Nasal meatus plasty: a contribution to plastic reconstruction of the nasal valve during midfacial degloving.

Midfacial degloving is a proven method for easily accessing the midface, the nasal pyramid, the maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses, the orbits, as well as the anterior skull base. Indications for this method of access mainly include tumour resections in the area of the midface, the septum, the maxillary sinus, the paranasal to the sphenoidal sinus as well as the clivus. In addition, this method of access allows for the exposure of the bony structures of the midface in the event of extensive fractures.

Intraoperative imaging with a 3D C-arm system after zygomatico-orbital complex fracture reduction.

Purpose: During the repair of zygomatico-orbital complex (ZMC) fractures, the lateral orbital wall and/or the orbital floor is often reduced by merely reducing the zygoma. Intraoperative 3D imaging can help surgeons decide whether the orbit must be reconstructed as well. The purpose of this study was therefore to assess the usefulness of intraoperative 3D C-arm imaging in evaluating the adequacy of fracture reduction.

Improving the quality of life of parotid surgery patients through a modified facelift incision and great auricular nerve preservation.

Postoperative quality of life after parotidectomy depends not only on surgical outcomes, such as the complete removal of a tumour, non-recurrence and the preservation of facial nerve function, but also on scar satisfaction and the degree of sensory dysfunction in the upper cervical area and at the ear lobe. Especially young patients and women consider the scar in the infra-auricular area and in the neck region to be distressing and even disfiguring. Resection of the great auricular nerve leads to paraesthesia and hypoesthesia, which leads to discomfort in many patients especially when using the telephone, shaving or wearing earrings.

A modified false vocal fold flap for functional reconstruction after frontolateral partial laryngectomy: a comparison with conventional open resection and laser cordectomy.

Objective: To describe a modified flap technique (MFT) involving the use of a false vocal fold flap for glottic reconstruction and the removal of arytenoid cartilage and to compare it with conventional frontolateral partial laryngectomy (FLPL) and laser cordectomy (LC).

Methods: Twenty-eight MFT, 13 FLPL and 12 LC patients completed a standardised questionnaire for assessing aspiration, respiration, quality of life, and subjective voice quality. We analysed vocal function in terms of roughness, breathiness and hoarseness, measured voice range profiles, and performed videoendoscopy.

Prevalence of cone beam computed tomography imaging findings according to the clinical stage of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Objectives: Investigations of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) imaging are rare. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of typical radiological findings of BRONJ in CBCT.

Methods: Twenty-seven CBCTs of BRONJ sites were assessed on the basis of the radiological findings (cancellous bone destruction, cortical bone erosion, sequestration, osteosclerosis, and periostal bone formation) and put in relation to the severity of the BRONJ sites.

Development and (pre-) clinical assessment of a novel surgical tool for primary and secondary tracheoesophageal puncture with immediate voice prosthesis insertion, the Provox Vega Puncture Set.

Development and (pre-) clinical assessment were performed of a novel surgical tool for primary and secondary tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) with immediate voice prosthesis (VP) insertion in laryngectomized patients, the Provox Vega Puncture Set (PVPS). After preclinical assessment in fresh frozen cadavers, a multicenter prospective clinical feasibility study in two stages was performed. Stage-1 included 20 patients, and stage-2 had 27.

The management of periprosthetic leakage in the presence of supra-oesophageal reflux after prosthetic voice rehabilitation.

The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of anti-reflux medications on the management of periprosthetic leakage in laryngectomised patients with prosthetic voice rehabilitation. Sixty patients underwent laryngectomy and prosthetic voice rehabilitation. In a prospective non-randomised study, we examined the patients clinically and assessed the presence of reflux disease using 24-h dual-probe pH monitoring before and 6 months after oral anti-reflux treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Role of reflux in tracheoesophageal fistula problems after laryngectomy.

Objectives: The purpose of this 2-year prospective nonrandomized study was to investigate the relationship between pathological supraesophageal reflux and the occurrence of speech fistula complications, especially severe fistula enlargement, in patients who underwent total laryngectomy and prosthetic voice restoration.

Methods: We objectively assessed the presence of reflux disease using 24-hour dual-probe pH monitoring in 60 laryngectomized patients, correlated the incidence of tracheoesophageal fistula complications with the severity of reflux, and assessed the risk of problems by determining the absolute number of reflux events at the level of the speech fistula, the reflux area index score, and the DeMeester score.

Results: All patients with fistula enlargement showed highly pathological results in the diagnostic tests for reflux disease.

One-stage reconstruction of the entire upper lip and the columella with a modified bilateral nasolabial flap.

The functional and cosmetic reconstruction of the upper lip after a subtotal defect is a highly demanding challenge, especially when the columella is involved. In the majority of cases, the surgical techniques described in the literature are suitable only for restoring the function and appearance of the upper lip but not for reconstructing adjacent areas. In this article, we present the case of an 85-year-old female patient with an extensive, aggressive and highly invasive basal cell carcinoma of the upper lip and the columella.

Photodynamic therapy with meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (Foscan) in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: experience with 35 patients.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new method of treating superficial tumours of the skin and mucosa. After the injection of a photosensitizing agent, the tumour area is exposed to non-thermal laser light. This causes a phototoxic reaction, producing oxygen radicals that destroy tumour cells.