Fizioterapijska procjena funkcionalnog statusa laringektomiranih bolesnika

Efikasnost liječenja onkološkog bolesnika procjenjuje se duljinom preživljavanja i postignutom kvalitetom života. Nakon totalne laringektomije, a pogotovo ako je učinjena i disekcija vrata, postoje odstupanja od normalnog funkcionalnog statusa gornjeg dijela torza i vrata zbog kirurških postupaka na koži i mišićima tog dijela tijela. Svrha ovoga rada je bila kroz fizioterapijsku procjenu, utvrditi funkcionalni status osoba nakon operacije totalne laringektomije /sa ili bez disekcije vrata/. Istraživan je: - status pokretljivosti Cx,Tx,G/H - status respiratornog indexa - mišićna snaga i sinergija G/H - sposobnost izvođenja svakodnevnih aktivnosti - postoje li odstupanja od normale u posturalnom status

Pathological and Non-pathological Irregularities of Nystagmus

Irregularities of nystagmus can be found almost in every electronystagmographic record, but only a few are pathological. In this investigation, the authors try to define the border line between pathological and nonpathological irregularities of nystagmus and according to this measure the diagnostic use of findings of irregularities of nystagmus

Basics of Voice Dysfunction – Etiology and Prevention of Voice Damage

Voice is one of the most important means of communication and as such should be taken care of. The etiology of voice disorders is diverse. Due to the development of the society we live in, way of life, environmental factors, and exposure to pharmacological agents as well as demands we make towards our voice, there is a substantial growth in the number of people with voice disorders. We tasked ourselves to find out if it is possible to enlighten people on the importance of voice, to motivate them to take care of it, to notice the changes in its quality and eventually ask for help. We assessed in which measure do we understand the importance of a healthy voice, and do we know which is the most important factor that adds to its decline. For a long number of years voice therapists and other experts in the voice disorder field have been discussing the optimal voice impostation as well as vocal exercises and methods behind voice recovery. They have all come to the same conclusion that phonation is dependant on the sort of the voice disorder and the patient motivation. We wanted to go one step further and investigate, dependence of voice quality and the damage etiology (organic – functional), which are the predominant causes, what are the factors that account for the damage and how the disorder motivates the patient and therefore influences the rehabilitation success rate

Prevencija degeneracije olfaktorne sluznice nakon totalne laringektomije

Olfactory rehabilitation after a laryngectomy is based on establishing nasal airflow to allow odorant molecules to come into contact with the olfactory mucosa. Currently, the polite yawning technique (PYT) is the gold standard for post-laryngectomy olfactory rehabilitation, but it is usually introduced in patient’s rehabilitation programs one month after the surgery. To prevent loss of valuable time and pathophysiological changes of the nasal and olfactory mucosa, a new device was developed, named the LaryScent. The timely establishment of nasal air flow with LaryScent would prevent histopathological changes and facilitate regenerative processes in olfactory mucosa.Olfaktorna rehabilitacija nakon totalne laringektomije temelji se na uspostavi protoka zraka kroz nos čime se omogućuje doticaj mirisnih molekula u zraku s olfaktornom sluznicom nosa. Trenutno je „Polite yawning” tehnika (PYT) zlatni standard u olfaktornoj rehabilitaciji nakon totalne laringektomije, ali pacijenti obično započinju s rehabilitacijom mjesec dana nakon operacije. Kako bi se prevenirao gubitak dragocjenog vremena i spriječio nastanak patohistoloških promjena sluznice nosa, razvijena je nova naprava nazvana LaryScent. Pravovremena uspostava protoka zraka kroz nos s LaryScent napravom prevenirat će histopatološke promjene olfaktorne sluznice i potaknuti regenerativne procese

Myxoma of the Zygomatic Bone – A Case Report

Myxoma is a benign tumor composed of primitive connective tissue cells and mesenchymal mucousal stroma. Also referred to as, a gelationus or colloidal tumor. Although rare, it can be found in the atrium of the heart, and it is the most common heart tumor. It has also been described in other body sites, one of which is the bone. We report a case of a 57-yearold female patient, with recurrent headaches located in the area of the right half of the face. Radiological analysis (Multislice Computed Tomography of the paranasal sinuses and viscerocranium) was performed, and a formation of irregular contours, destroying the right zygomatic bone, was described, measuring 25x17x20 mm in its widest diameters. Its medial border was adjacent to the lateral wall of the right maxillary sinus and the cortical bone in this segment was thinned, but preserved. A probatory excision was performed in general anesthesia, and the histopathological fi nding showed, starlike tumor cells embedded in mucoid stroma and infi ltrating the bone. After pathohistological confi rmation of myxoma, the tumor was excised in total, using infraorbital surgical approach to the zygomatic bone. During the follow-up, the patient was symptom free, without headaches, and there were no signs of local tumor recurrence. Despite of the fact that myxoma behaves as a benign disease in its nature, it can cause destruction of the tissue in the vicinity of the tumor itself, and thus major health issues for the patient. A timely proper diagnosis and the right choice of a surgical treatment can help avoid more extensive surgery procedures, as shown in our case report

Voice Rehabilitation of Broca\u27s Aphasia Following Total Laryngectomy

Total laryngectomy, as a consequence of carcinoma of the larynx, results in loss of speech function. Cerebrovascular stroke is the leading cause of reduced speech production ability, and thereby communication difficulties. The case is presented of a 60-year-old male patient who suffered stroke five years after a total laryngectomy. Speech rehabilitation was hampered due to the depressive state of the patient. Although contraindicated, the secondary voice prosthesis was implanted. Only at that moment the patient showed willingness and motivation for speech rehabilitation. The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate that not all neurological disorders are contraindicated for implantation of voice prostheses