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Operation on the carotid arteries (CA) prevent strokes in patients with occlusions and stenoses of these arteries. We have worked out the measures for preventing perioperative strokes. During interventions on the CA, iatrogenic injuries to the cranial nerves (CN) are paid little attention. 1186 patients underwent 1362 operations. There were 26 lethal outcomes and 38 strokes. 146 (0.7%) cases of CN injuries were documented. Of these, there were 2 (0.1%) injuries to the accessory nerve, 14 (1%) to the glossopharyngeal nerve, 28 (2%) to the hypoglossal nerve, 46 (3.4%) injuries to vagal nerve branches, and 56 (4.2%) to facial nerve branches. In 42 patients, neuropathies acquired the 'permanent' character. We describe the symptomatology of injuries to different CN pairs consequent on carotid operations and the algorithm of their diagnosis. CN injuries deteriorate the results of operations and decrease quality of life of the patients. Early diagnosis and correction of the sequelae of iatrogenic injuries to the CN is a reserve for the refinement of the results of operations on the CA.

Complex examination of 2103 patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries was carried out. This examination included contrast arthrotomography, computed tomography (CT) and MR tomography of the TMJ. It gas been established, that in mandibular condyle fractures not only bone structures of the TMJ, but also soft tissue ones (the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus) are being injured. Our investigation has shown that condylar fractures in the region of condylar base and neck are combined with the injuries of the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus in 54.1 +/- 5.4% cases, mandibular head fractures with its dislocation--in 100%. The term "TMJ injuries" reflecting the injuries of bone and soft tissue structures of the TMJ has been introduced. The classification of TMJ injuries including TMJ contusion, mandibular dislocations, condylar and glenoid fossa fractures, the injuries of the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus has been developed. Distant results of traditional methods of treatment used in TMJ trauma have been studied and the necessity of the restoring of correct relation: glenoid fossa --articular disk--mandibular head--has been shown. The method of TMJ reconstruction consisting in the restoration of TMJ bone structures and the articular disk and capsular-ligamentous apparatus has been developed.

Nine patients with cancer of the parotid glands were operated on. Parotidectomies involved resection of the facial nerve. In 3 patients neuroplasty was simultaneously carried out: the nerve was epineurally sutured end-to-end. Facial nerve function recovered in these patients.

Out of 486 patients with basilar skull fracture, 74 developed peripheral paralysis of the facial nerve (28 cases of early and 39 of late posttraumatic paralysis). 19 (67.8%) patients with early paralysis recovered function of the facial nerve, whereas only 9 (32.2%) with late paralysis were cured. Indications to surgical management of relevant paralyses are specified. Cases of one-stage tympanoplasty are described.

Intraoperative color lymphosialography was carried out in 56 patients with benign tumors of the parotid salivary gland. A characteristic staining of the gland distinguishing it from the tumor was seen during surgery in all the cases. Peripheral branches of the facial nerve were well seen too. Employment of this technique has helped reduce by half the number of x-ray contrast examinations and resulted in a lower incidence (only 5 percent) of postoperative complications.

Eleven children with injuries to the cranial nerves were examined. It has been revealed that as a result of surgical interventions, the facial nerve gets affected more frequently. The results of the treatment often appear unsatisfactory because of the late referral of the victims to hospitals for operative treatment.