ObjectiveTo summarise the available literature related to wound healing post tonsillectomy, including the stages of healing, experimental models for assessing healing (in animals and humans) and the various factors that affect wound healing.MethodsA search of the English literature was conducted using the Ovid Medline database, with the search terms ‘tonsillectomy’ or ‘tonsil’ and ‘wound healing’. Thirty-one articles that objectively assessed tonsillectomy wound healing were included for analysis.ResultsThe majority of assessments in humans investigating tonsillectomy wound healing involve serial direct clinical examinations of the oral cavity. Many patient and surgical factors have been shown to affect wound healing after tonsillectomy. There is some research to suggest that the administration of adjunctive treatment in the post-operative period may be beneficial to tonsillectomy wound healing.ConclusionWound healing post tonsillectomy has been poorly researched. Having a better understanding of the process of wound healing would allow surgeons to potentially prevent, anticipate and manage complications from the surgery that arise as part of the healing process.

Considerable animal research has focused on developing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of acute otitis media (AOM). Several experimental models of AOM have thus been developed. A PubMed search of the English literature was conducted from 1975 to July 2016 using the search terms "animal model" and "otitis media" from which 91 published studies were included for analysis, yielding 123 animal models. The rat, mouse and chinchilla are the preferred animals for experimental AOM models with their individual advantages and disadvantages. The most common pathogens used to create AOM are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Streptococcus pneumoniae (types 3, 23 and 6A) and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are best options for inoculation into rat and mouse models. Adding viral pathogens such as RSV and Influenza A virus, along with creating ET dysfunction, are useful adjuncts in animal models of AOM. Antibiotic prophylaxis may interfere with the inflammatory response without a significant reduction in animal mortality.

Lemierre's syndrome is a potentially fatal complication associated with significant morbidity. A high index of suspicion is required for prompt recognition and the early institution of treatment.

Patient involvement is an important component of burn care and is necessary to produce good outcomes. Patient education using multimedia resources is useful in facilitating self-management and recovery from burn injury. The study aims to provide and evaluate an instructional DVD to assist burn patients with their self-management. The project was divided into three phases: 1) research about the needs of patients, 2) production of the DVD based on those needs, and 3) evaluation of the effectiveness of the DVD. In phase III, 49 burn patients (73% male; median age 32 years, median TBSA 3%) completed a survey on confidence in their burn care before development of an educational DVD, the results of which were compared with those of 55 burn patients (58% male; median age 35 years, median TBSA 3%) who completed the same survey questions after viewing a burn care DVD. Patient confidence in all self-management activities showed a statistically significant improvement (P < .01). An instructional burns DVD improves confidence in self-management of patients who have not been admitted to hospital and is a useful adjunct to current burn practice.

Introduction Congenital cholesteatomas of the temporal bone are epidermoid cysts of embryologic origin that result in progressive desquamation and trapping of squamous epithelium behind an intact tympanic membrane. They are benign, slowly progressive lesions that can be found in various areas of the temporal bone. We report a case of a patient with a massive cholesteatoma first detected at the age of 64 years, causing significant destruction of the mastoid and petrous temporal bones, and adjacent occipital bone. Methods We reviewed the literature and a case report of a patient seen in our institution recently. The Medline database was used to search multiple terms including “congenital” and “cholesteatoma.” Results The patient's congenital cholesteatoma was detected incidentally on a computed tomography scan when the patient's only symptoms were unilateral conductive hearing loss with a family history of hearing loss. It was subsequently successfully operated on with minimal postoperative complications. Conclusions Congenital cholesteatomas of mastoid origin can often exist for many years in a subclinical state and develop into a massive size before causing symptoms. A high index of suspicion is necessary to detect congenital cholesteatomas in patients with unilateral conductive hearing loss who are otherwise asymptomatic and have a normal tympanic membrane.