[Temporomandibular joint dysfunction. A consequence of whiplash-injury].

Background: In 10-20% of patients with a simple whiplash-injury without severe structural lesions, a chronification of the complaints occurs. The question is whether some unidentified pathogenic factors exist.

Scientific Question: Investigations have demonstrated that mandibular and head-neck movements are coordinated and centrally controlled and that a craniocervical dysfunction (CCD) can lead to a temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) by reflex action and vice versa.

[The efficiency of spinal manipulation in otorhinolaryngology. A retrospective long-term study].

Background: The vertebral genesis of many functional disorders in otorhinolaryngology, such as dizziness, hearing-impairment, ear-pressure, ear-pain, foreign body sensation in the throat and dysphonia, is suggested by the success of spinal manipulative therapy, particularly of the atlanto-occipital joint. Up to now, there are no retrospective investigations which show the duration of the therapeutic effect.

Methods: We examined 220 patients with cervical otorhinolaryngological disorders (100 patients with dizziness, 49 with hearing impairment, 47 with tinnitus and 24 with dysphonia) after cervical manipulation lasting more than 6 months.

[Paranasal sinuses: only one of nature's games?].

Background: Many theories exist concerning the function of paranasal sinuses, but it is rather difficult to definitively name the right one. Despite the fact that many of them have been proved to be wrong, they are still used.

Theories: Galen postulated 2000 years ago that they were "porous bones", which helped with weight reduction.

[New developments in endoscopy].

Beside the developments of new imaging modalities in endoscopy, efforts have been made to improve therapeutical possibilities of endoscopic interventions. In addition to the improvement or even development of new instruments for flexible and rigid endoscopy, the potentials of the new technique of argon-plasma-coagulation in ENT are only hardly discovered. This innovative method is based on high-frequency (HF) electric current for non contact tissue coagulation via ionized argon gas.