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Background: Reinnerveration of free flaps used in oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction may provide a high level of sensory return. Spontaneous recovery of sensation in noninnervated flaps may also occur. Objective: To evaluate the extent of spontaneous sensory return among patients who underwent radial forearm free flap reconstruction in the oral cavity and oropharynx. Methods: A total of 40 patients were evaluated by 2 independent examiners. The median patient age was 60 years, and the median time from surgery was 47 months. A total of 29 patients had received postoperative radiotherapy. The mean flap size was 25 cm[sup 2]. The following sensory modalities were tested: light touch, pinprick, hot and cold, and moving and static 2-point discrimination. Results: Recovery of sensation of at least 1 modality was noted in 32 patients (80%), however, only 5 patients (13%) had return of all 5 modalities. Eight patients (20%) had no sensory return. There was a trend to improved sensory recovery in flaps placed in the alveolar and retromolar trigone areas; however, on multivariate analysis, sensory return could not be predicted by any of the following factors: patient age, flap site, flap size, length of follow-up, and use of postoperative radiotherapy. Conclusions: Complete sensory recovery was uncommon, unpredictable, and variable, although some recovery of sensation occurred in 80% of patients. It is not valid to rely on spontaneous sensory recovery for sensory innervation of free flaps. Correlation of sensory return with function is still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defines clinical responses in cosmetic laser surgery. Dilemma faced by the practicing facial plastic and head and neck surgeon who incorporates laser and nonlaser technology; Necessity of appropriate skill, training and knowledge in the application of the nonlaser, laser and radiofrequency devices; Need to carefully plan and apply known and predictable science.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education restrictions have brought about positive changes. In congruence with institutions nationwide, our surgical interns and junior residents have favored the new duty hours standard. Primarily, they cite the enhanced quality of their personal and family lives and increased control of their lifestyles. These are not trivial improvements. The quality and number of the U.S. medical graduates desiring a career in surgery has been steadily declining over the past decade. Medical graduates report that a controllable life-style outweighs remuneration, prestige, and length of training as the most important factor in choosing a specialty.

Focuses on the use of digital signal processing (DSP) hearing aids for hearing-impaired individuals. Features of the device; Assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the DSP technology; Impact of DSP hearing aids on deaf individuals.

Comments on issues related to diseases in the head and neck. Prevention of the Frey syndrome during parotidectomy; Improvement of nasal breathing during sleep through a nasal dilator; Importance of medical history in the testing of children for bleeding disorders prior adenotonsillectomy.

Discusses efforts to study cancer patients' quality of life (QOL). Selection and use of QOL instruments; Issues in single-institution studies that must be recognized; Value of information guaranteed in prospective data collection.

Discusses the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in estimating tumor recurrence of patients who have undergone reconstruction with the Microvascular Anastomotic System device. Influence of the implanted device on MRI; Effectiveness of the MRI.

Presents an article on the use of immunotherapy (IT) in the treatment of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS). Effect of IT on patients with AFRS; Fungal allergens detected in AFRS patients.

Provides instructions for contributors to the journal "Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery." Manuscript criteria and information; Requirements for manuscript contributions; Checklist of items to include when submitting reports of randomized controlled trials.

Provides information on the cover of the March 2004 issue of the "Archive of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery" periodical.

The article presents instructions to all categories of manuscripts to be submitted to the journal "Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery." All accepted journals become the permanent property of the American Medical Association (AMA) and may not be published elsewhere without permission from both the author and the AMA. Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from all persons named in the acknowledgement, if applicable. Titles should not exceed 75 characters, including punctuation and spacing.

Presents instructions for authors contributing to the medical journal of the organization American Medical Association (AMA) in the U.S. Criteria for acceptance of manuscripts by the publication; Types of manuscripts published and tips for their preparation.

The article provides criteria for authors who like to publish their manuscripts in the journal 'Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery.' The criteria apply to all categories of manuscripts, including 'Letters to the Editor.' Interested authors should send manuscripts to the editor of the journal Michael M. E. Johns at the address: Emory University, Woodruff Health Sciences Center Administration Building, Suite 400, 1440 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta. All accepted manuscripts become the permanent property of AMA and may not be published elsewhere without permission from both the author and the AMA. Before publication of any accepted manuscript, all authors must provide signatures by mail or fax for the statement on authorship responsibility, the statement on financial disclosure, and the appropriate copyright or federal employee statement.