[Method of tongue size reduction with maintenance of taste and other types of sensitivity]

All known operations for tongue size reduction in cases of macroglossia foresee end and part of back tongue excision. In this case patient will get rid of gustatory and other types of sensitivity and it is considered inevitable. Method is described to reduce tongue size allowing preserve all types of sensitivity. During the operation of end tongue excision narrow part of its edge is left in the form of mucous-muscle flap on feeding stem. Scheme of the operation is described.

How do children with adenoid hypertrophy smell and taste? Clinical assessment of olfactory function pre- and post-adenoidectomy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ability to smell and appreciate food in children with adenoid hypertrophy pre and post-adenoidectomy.

METHODS

A total of 35 children with adenoid hypertrophy admitted for adenoidectomy (aged 5-9.3 years, mean age 5.9 years) were tested preoperatively. In a follow up appointment 3 months postoperatively, 28 of them returned and were tested again. The control group consisted of 30 healthy children (aged 5-10.2 years, mean age 6.1 years). Orthonasal olfactory function was assessed psychophysically using "Sniffin sticks" 12 item odor identification test. Retronasal olfaction was assessed using a collection of 12 grocery available powders applied to the oral cavity.

RESULTS

Both orthonasal and retronasal olfactory function of the study group preoperatively were significantly lower in comparison with the results of the control group (p<0.0001). The difference in retronasal olfaction between groups was significantly higher in comparison with the difference in orthonasal odor identification (p=0.048). There is a strong correlation between adenoid hypertrophy grade and retronasal testing results (t=-5.461, p<0.0001), but not with the orthonasal results (t=-1.677, p=0.9). Significant improvement of orthonasal and retronasal olfaction was observed in the follow-up appointment (p<0.0001). Relative increase postoperatively was higher for the retronasal olfaction compared to orthonasal olfaction (p=0.0029).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with adenoid hypertrophy have a reduced ability to smell, with retronasal olfactory function being more affected. Surgery had a greater impact on retronasal olfaction.

A prospective, quantitative study on the clinical outcome of lingual nerve repair

We previously showed in laboratory studies that the most effective method for repair of damaged lingual nerves was by excision of the neuroma, mobilization of the stumps, and direct reapposition with epineurial sutures. We have now undertaken a prospective study in a series of 53 patients treated by this method and have evaluated the outcome by quantifying and comparing the results of tests of sensation before and after operation. The outcome in individual patients was variable. However, pooled data from all patients showed a highly significant improvement in sensation at the final assessment 12 months or more after the repair. The proportion of patients who responded to most or all light touch stimuli increased from 0% to 51% after repair, and the proportion who responded to pin-prick stimuli increased from 34% to 77%. There was no correlation between the final results of any of the tests and the delay before repair. None of the patients regained completely normal sensation and there was no reduction in the number with spontaneous paraesthesia or pain. However, fewer patients tended to bite the tongue by accident and most of them considered the operation worthwhile. These data show that lingual nerve repair is effective in most patients and we suggest that it should be offered to all those who show few signs of spontaneous recovery after injury.

Surgical management of chemosensory disorders

As additional understanding of the histopathologic basis of chemosensory dysfunction has been achieved, several actual and potential surgical approaches for correction have been devised. These currently include correction of steroid-dependent anosmia and hyposmia due to septal deviation. Posttraumatic anosmia might be correctable in the future. Surgical approaches to dysgeusia are sparse, probably due to a paucity of information on the causes of this disorder.