Betahistine dihydrochloride with and without early vestibular rehabilitation for the management of patients with balance disorders following head trauma: a preliminary randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of betahistine dihydrochloride alone and in combination with vestibular rehabilitation for the management of patients with balance disorders following head trauma.

Methods: In this preliminary clinical trial, a group of patients with head trauma was referred to our university-based tertiary care balance unit over a 1-year period. The study included 60 patients with balance disorder following head trauma.

Preoperative lornoxicam for pain prevention after tonsillectomy in adults.

Study Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative lornoxicam on postoperative pain management following tonsillectomy.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: King Fahd University Hospital.

Management of nasal polyposis arising from the olfactory cleft.

Objectives: Although nasal polypi frequently arise from the middle meatus, they may occasionally originate from the olfactory cleft. Removal of these polypi may be difficult because of obscure location and concomitant occurrence of septal deviation. This work describes surgical management of olfactory cleft nasal polypi with a combined approach involving septoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery.

Experimental autogenous cartilaginous grafts for laryngotracheoplasty: a comparison of two techniques and two different types of grafts.

Objectives: This experimental work was performed to compare the results of laryngotracheoplasty with the use of autogenous cartilaginous grafts harvested either from the auricula or costal cartilage using two techniques, anterior or posterior graft placement.

Study Design: This study was carried out in 20 healthy dogs of both sexes and varying ages, weighing about 12-15 kg. The animals were divided into two groups (A and B), equal in number.

Management of the vertebral artery at the craniocervical junction.

Objectives: To study the surgical anatomy of the vertebral artery at the craniocervical junction and its related structures defining reliable landmarks for its safe exposure.

Design: Ten sides of 5 fresh cadavers were dissected using the lateral approach to the craniocervical junction.

Results: Experience gained in studying the anatomic details of the vertebral artery at the craniocervical junction in cadavers from its exit at the transverse foramen of the second cervical vertebra to the vertebrobasilar junction provided the initial background for us to use the lateral approaches to the skull base to safely manage 4 cases with pathology reaching the close vicinity of vertebral artery at the craniocervical junction.

Experimental selective posterior semicircular canal laser deafferentation.

In this experimental study, we attempted to perform selective deafferentation of the posterior semicircular canal ampulla of guinea pigs using carbon dioxide laser beam. The results of this study document the efficacy of this procedure in achieving deafferentation of the posterior semicircular canal safely with regards to the other semicircular canals, the otolithic organ and the organ of hearing. Moreover, the procedure is performed with relative ease compared with other procedures previously described for selective deafferentation of the posterior semicircular canal.

Management of acoustic neuroma in the only hearing ear.

Patients with acoustic neuroma in their only hearing ear are not frequently seen in clinical practice. Managing this group of patients is a challenge to both the patient and surgeon. In this study we report on five cases of acoustic neuroma in an only hearing ear.

Identification of the auditory hazards of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

The aim of this work was to determine the effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on the hearing of both patients and staff members exposed to such treatment. It used different hearing screening instruments, and compared the sensitivity of these instruments for the detection of the earliest change in hearing induced by this procedure. The results of this study show that ESWL has a potentially hazardous effect on hearing.