6-year experience with pediatric temporal bone trauma at a rural tertiary-care hospital looking for trends unique to our population. Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective review was per- formed. Charts were identified by diagnosis code for skull base fracture in patients under 18 years old from January 1996 through December 2001. Data regarding age, sex, mech- anism of injury, associated injuries, management, and mor- tality were collected. Computed tomography scans were re- viewed when available. Results: 256 patients were initially identified, and 108 had temporal bone fractures. 71 were male and 37 were female. The mechanism of injury varied by age group, and animal- related injuries only occurred in children under 5 years old. Overall, 7% had facial nerve injuries and 16% had docu- mented hearing loss. 65% had additional skull base fractures and 75% had intracranial injuries. Associated mortality rates were 10% for patients with unilateral fractures and 63% for patients with bilateral fractures. Conclusion: We identified 108 children with temporal bone fractures from 1996 through 2001. Our mechanisms of injury varied from those previously reported, but our facial nerve injury and hearing loss rates are in line with previous reports. Our data remain unique in that we report additional skull base fractures as well as intracranial injuries in this population. P070 A Modified Shaver-Concho-Suction Method for Inferior Turbinate Reduction Josef Lindenberger MD PhD (presenter) Frankfurt Germany Objectives: Nasal airway disturbances caused by hyper- plasia of the inferior turbinate or vasomotor rhinitis are a very common finding. As far as there is no chronic or polypoid infection of the sinuses, shaver conchotomy is an elective operation procedure. Methods: Between 1996 and 2002, 455 patients aged between 15 and 58 years were treated in our clinic in Frank- furt. The main symptom was closed nasal breathing without sinusitis and major septum deviation. For Shaver-Concho- Suction, special shaver blades, 2.0 mm and 2.9 mm, were used. Over a small incision in the head of the inferior turbi- nate, the rotating shaver blade was inserted and moved under the intact tissue toward the ventral end of the turbinate. Rhinomanometry and patient questioning were performed before and after for evaluation. Results: Most patients felt a major improvement of nasal breathing. The healing process was shorter compared with the standard therapy with laser conchotomy, despite a stronger bleeding for the first 2 days so the nasal package is necessary. Postoperative evaluations were done by rhinomanometry and endoscopy. Conclusion: Shaver-suction comchotomy is an elegant method for treating disturbed nasal breathing with minimal damage of tissue and optional preservation of the mucous membrane. The healing is quicker than standard conchotomy. Over the 6-year period of treatment, there were no recur- rences, fewer complications, and better results. P071 Anatomic Relationships of the Posterior Tongue for Ultrasound-Guided Glossectomy B Tucker Woodson MD (presenter); Laura T Brusky MD; Francisco Quiros Milwaukee WI; Milwaukee WI; Milwaukee WI Objectives: Glossectomy for OSA includes trans-oral mid- line glossectomy, lingualplasty, and radiofrequency. Hyo- epiglottiplasty via a transcervical approach exposes and iden- tifies the lingual neurovascular pedicle for preservation. A minimally invasive transcervical transcutaneous submucosal glossectomy using ultrasound guidance is now described. Anatomic relationships from this approach are unfamiliar. We sought to describe posterior tongue anatomy to define ultra- sound and physical landmarks, outline a potential safe resec- tion area, and estimate potential volumetric reduction. Methods: We used a convenience sample of four em- balmed and four non-embalmed cadaver heads. Embalmed specimens were cut in a mid-sagittal plane. Anatomic dissec- tion in a lateral and medial plane identified internal relation- ships of the hypoglossal nerve, lingual artery, and tongue base. In four non-embalmed cadavers, bipolar radiofrequency ionized plasma posterior glossectomy using surface land- marks was performed. Cavities were irrigated with barium contrast and contrast volume measured. Results: Consistent with other descriptions, the lingual artery primarily runs medially and cephalically to the hypo- glossal nerve. As such, the artery provides a visible ultrasonic landmark within the tongue base for the hypoglossal nerve and defines a potential volume for submucosal posterior glos- sectomy. A potential anatomic danger zone was observed where the hypoglossal nerve runs medial to the lingual artery. This occurred at a genu of the lingual artery where the artery changes from a horizontal to a vertical course. Conclusion: A medial plane of dissection provides a dif- ferent surgical orientation. Observations, photographs, and images of this study provide a potential anatomic framework for ultrasound-guided tongue base excision. P072 Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: Tissue Maturation during Its Growth Luis U Sennes MD PhD (presenter); Ossamu Butugan MD PhD; Tanit Ganz Sanchez MD PhD; Fabiola D C Bernardi MD PhD; Paulo H S Nascimento MD PhD Sao Paulo Brazil; Sao Paulo Brazil; Sao Paulo Brazil; Sao Paulo Brazil; Sao Paulo Brazil POSTERS Otolaryngology– Head and Neck Surgery P234 Scientific Posters August 2003