The aim of this study is to evaluate anatomical and audiological results of cartilage tympanoplasty compared to fascia tympanoplasty in the reconstruction of tympanic membrane perforations. We carry a retrospective study about 380 patients operated in our department between 1998 and 2005. Patients were classified into two groups: 90 (23.6%) undergo cartilage tympanoplasty and 290 (76.4%) fascia tympanoplasty. In each group, we calculated the average of pre and postoperative air bone gap (ABG) and the average air conduction gain (ACG) at 250-4,000 Hz. The surgical technique is explained in detail. We detail and analyze the audiological and anatomical results in each group. Successful closure of the tympanic membrane perforation was achieved in 97% of the cartilage group as compared to 94% of the fascia group. The average ACG was 21 +/- 11 dB in cartilage group and 20 +/- 22 dB in fascia group. With an average follow-up of 2 years, residual perforation was observed in 2.2% in cartilage group. Reperforation of fascia graft and retraction were noted in 2.1 and 1%, respectively. The authors show the great reliability of cartilage tympanoplasty to close tympanic membrane perforations. We recommend using cartilage as a first choice, especially in stable or evolutive chronic otitis media, and in recurrent perforation of the tympanic membrane.

Foreign body (FB) aspiration and ingestion are frequently encountered by emergent otolaryngology services. The authors describe their experience in the management of FB cases in the aerodigestive tract. We carry a retrospective study about 626 patients who came or were referred to our department between 1996 and 2007 with a history or suspicion of a FB in the aerodigestive tract (except nasal and oropharyngeal FB). All of them have undergone rigid endoscopy under general anaesthesia. Children younger than 10 years were the most involved (36.9%) followed by patients between 71 and 80 years old (11.3%). The FB were visible on clinical examination in 39 cases. Chest and neck X-ray, showed radio-opaque FB in 302 cases (48.7%). A total of 626 rigid endoscopies were performed. FB were encountered in 549 patients (87.7%). The most involved sites were the oesophagus (51.9%) followed by the tracheobronchial tree (33.9%) and the hypopharynx (13.5%). Bones (22%) and coins (20.1%) were the most frequently encountered FB. Successful removal was achieved in 521 cases (94.9% of the FB found). The complication rate after rigid endoscopy was 1.3%. FB in the aerodigestive tract are frequent and may lead to severe complications. Removal through the rigid endoscope still has its place as the most reliable method. Prevention and public education for this serious problem should be considered.

Necrotizing otitis externa is an uncommon but severe infectious disease of the external auditory canal. Patients at risk are those immunodepressed or having diabetes. The causal germ is often Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Over a period of 10 years (1997-2006), we treated 19 patients: 94.7% had diabetes (insulin dependent in 6 cases). The causal germ was P. aeruginosa in 59% of cases. The pretherapeutic work-up included a computed tomography and a scintigraphy practiced in order to confirm diagnosis and assess the extension. Medical treatment was based on a parenteral antibiotic therapy using a third-generation cephalosporin and a fluoroquinolones. Local treatment of the auditory canal including cleaning and application of antimicrobial agents was performed in all the cases. Surgical debridement of soft tissue and infected bone was performed in one patient who did not respond to medical management. Repeated scintigraphies with gallium were used to follow the course under treatment in only three cases. We had a 89.4% cure rate with only three cases of recurrence. We reviewed the data in the literature on necrotizing otitis externa and present the important diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic aspects of the disease.

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