<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> A prospective study to analyze the facial nerve branching pattern as seen in various parotidectomy surgeries in Kashmiri population. Main objective was to find out various branching patterns among peripheral branches of facial nerve in parotid tissue so that new young ENT surgeons could get benefited and it should be easy for them to perform parotid surgeries with less complications and unpredictable outcome.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The prospective study was conducted in 35 patients undergoing superficial parotidectomy in our department of otorhinolaryngology GMC Srinagar over a period of one and half year. Facial nerve branching pattern was classified according to the description given by Davis et al. Branching pattern of main trunk was also observed in all cases.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The most common type of branching pattern of facial nerve in our study was type I seen in 12 (34.2%) patients, followed by type III seen in 9 (25.7%), followed by type II in 5 (14.2%), type IV in 4 (11.4%) patients, followed by type V in 3 (8.5%) and VI in 2 (5.7%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Type I branching pattern is the most common branching pattern of the facial nerve (34.2%) followed by type III (25.7%), following the pattern as described by Davis. Main trunk was found single in 32 (91.4%%) patients however in 3 (8.57%) patients trunk was dividing in 2 branches before dividing in peripheral branching pattern as described above. </p>

Introduction: Adhesive otitis media is a type of chronic otitis media, the development of which is essentially influenced by disturbed ventilation of the middle ear. Anatomic and some other predisposing factors may play a part in the origin of this disease. Study aimed to find the efficacy and outcome of cartilage tympanoplasty in patients with grade 3 and 4 parastensa retraction. (atelectatic and adhesive otitis media). Material and Methods: This study was conducted in the department of ENT and HNS Govt Medical College Srinagar. A total of 25 patients with grade3 and 4 retraction were included in this study. In all patients otoscopic examination, Pure Tone audiometry (PTA), impedance audiometry and oto-endoscopic examination / EUM (Examination under Microscope) was done. Proper consent was taken from all patients included in this study. Results: Cartilage Tympanoplasty is an effective method of treating grade3 and 4 parastensa retraction in adhesive otitis media patients. In our study we found less recurrence of adhesion at 9 months followup with better compliance and improvement in hearing. Out of 25 patients, 23 (92%) patients had intact tympanic membrane, better hearing outcome at 9 months follow-up. However in 2(8%) patients, among them one had displaced cartilage, another had no hearing improvement at 9 months follow up. Conclusion: Cartilage tympanoplasty is a better surgical option for treating atelectatic and adhesive otitis media, with better outcome of hearing, patient compliance and less failure rate in terms of recurrence of disease 7. Cartilage used as reconstruction gives good tensile strength and prevents recurrence of disease in terms of retraction.