Septal cartilage graft for nasal valve incompetence associated with deviated septum.

Background: The nasal valve is one of the major factors contributing to nasal airflow obstruction. Physiologically, the nasal valve offers the greatest resistance to nasal airflow and generally functions as an inflow device controlling nasal airflow and resistance. Many patients who have complaints of breathing impairment are affected by alterations of the nasal septum, the turbinates, the columellar base, the vestibule floor, or the lateral wall of the nose but may have associated incompetence of the nasal valve, which is too often undervalued by nasal surgeons.

Treatment of benign positional vertigo in the elderly: a randomized trial.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of three therapeutic strategies (Semont maneuver, flunarizine, and no treatment) in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Study Design: Randomized prospective trial.

Methods: One hundred fifty-six consecutive patients older than 60 years of age who were affected by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior semicircular canal were enrolled.

Stapedoplasty in patients with small air-bone gap: why not?

Otosclerosis is a primary osteodystrophy which affects a localized area within the human temporal bone. Hearing loss is the most functional deficit caused by otosclerosis. However, tinnitus and vestibular disorders are frequently reported by otosclerotic patients, especially in those patients with inner ear involvement.

Otosclerosis and stapedoplasty in older adults.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of stapedoplasty in patients aged 60 and older, based on audiometric data and a questionnaire about quality of life.

Design: A retrospective (1994-2000) study.

Setting: People living in southern and central Italy.