A low fistula rate was obtained in Furlow technique palatal cleft repairs using decellularized dermis when compared with historical controls. Decellularized dermis may provide an additional barrier to wound breakdown in the postoperative period and may improve fistula rate.

Suture suspension may gradually fail due to eversion of suture barbs or migration through tissues. Although the complication rate for this technique has been reported to be low, we believe that surgeons performing this procedure should be aware the rate may be higher than indicated in the literature.

Otologic injuries are frequently associated with large blasts. On August 7, 1998, a large truck bomb exploded next to the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Initial patient findings and care are reviewed. Five months later, an otologic screening and care mission was then sent to comprehensively screen all remaining blast victims on site in Nairobi and to determine degree of persistent injury. Surgical care appropriate for an outpatient environment was provided. Five of 14 tympanic membranes without intervention failed to heal, while 3 of 3 with previous intervention had. Blast injury severity did not correlate to distance from blast epicenter. This may be due to channeling of the blast through the embassy building and an unpredictable pattern of blast overpressure within the building. It is recommended that comprehensive otologic screening be performed after blast events to identify occult injuries and improve outcomes. Early intervention for tympanic membrane perforation (suctioning, eversion of perforations, and paper patch) is recommended.

The endoscope-assisted temporoparietal fascia harvest technique for auricular reconstruction can minimize scarring, alopecia, and surgical time, with comparable blood loss. Flap size is comparable to that of the traditional open approach. The authors recommend a broadly based pedicle instead of one based solely off the superficial temporal artery.

Isolated unilateral temporal muscle hypertroph y is a rarely reported clini cal entity with an unclear etiology. Considerati on of a broad differential diagnos is combined with a detailed histologic and radiologic work-up will help thephysician diagnose the underlying path ology. We report a new case ofthis uncommon entity, and we review the pertinent literature.

Kikuchi 's disease is a necrotizing lymphadenitis that is prevalent in Asia and is being increasingly recognized in other areas of the world. It usually occurs in women in their late 20s or early 30s and manifests as a posterior cervical adenopathy. It resolves spontaneously, usually over a period of severa l weeks to 6 months. Its initial clinical appearance is commonly similar to that of a lymphoma, and it can be pathologically misdiagnosed as such. Kikuchi 's disease might be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. We report a case of Kikuchi 's disease that occurred in a 36-year-old Asian woman. We discuss the clinicalfeatures, differential diagnosis, radiographic evaluation, and pathology of this case, and we review the literature in an effort to assist otolaryngologists in diagnosing this benign and uncommon entity.

The authors' outcomes demonstrated that the HULA technique was a safe and effective approach for the complete correction of frontonasoethmoidal encephalomeningoceles.

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