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Neck pain is a common reason for primary care visits, and its differential diagnosis should consider various conditions. The reported incidence of hyoid bone fractures is extremely low, accounting for only 0.002% of all fractures. The most common causes of hyoid bone fractures include strangulation attempts and motor vehicle accidents. We report a case of an uncommon complication of manual therapy of the cervical spine. A 76-year-old woman complained of neck pain that worsened during speaking and swallowing, originating from a neck physiotherapy session. The otolaryngological examination revealed tenderness on the right side of the neck. Flexible nasal endoscopy demonstrated a shallow right piriform recess and asymmetry of the arytenoid cartilages. Computer tomography scan of the neck showed an isolated fracture of the right greater horn (cornu major) of the hyoid bone. The treatment was nonsurgical, with the use of a Schantz collar and pain relief drugs. Reported symptoms of hyoid bone fractures include dysphagia, odynophagia, and neck pain. In most cases of hyoid fractures, conservative management suffices, involving rest, analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment, and neck immobilization. Surgical treatment is often necessary in the cases of fractures accompanying other injuries.

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<b>Introduction:</b> Migrainous vertigo (MV) is one of the most common causes of episodic vertigo. Diagnostic criteria for MV are described in the appendix to the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (Beta Version). The dysfunction exerts its impact on certain peripheral and central structures within the vestibular system. </br></br> <b>Aim:</b> The aim of the study was to assess the function of the central and peripheral vestibular system in patients with MV based on the results of objective clinical tests including videonystagmography (VNG) and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) depending on the duration of the disease. </br></br> <b>Material and methods:</b> A query of the medical records of patients receiving vertigo treatment at the Department of Otolaryngo-logy of the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education over the last four years returned a total of 84 cases of patients diagnosed with MV; the patients were assigned to either of the following two groups: study group I (SG1) - 42 patients with MV in whom the symp-tom onset had occurred within one year prior to hospital admission, and study group II (SG2) - 42 patients who had been suffering from vertigo for about 10 years. </br></br> <b>Results:</b> Patients in both groups (SG1 and SG2) were diagnosed with all three types of vestibular dysfunction (central, peri-pheral and mixed), with peripheral vestibular dysfunction being the predominant finding. A thorough analysis of the dura-tion of vestibular attacks revealed that the patients suffering from MV for a longer period of time (SG2) suffered from vertigo attacks which were longer than those in the patients with the shorter lasting-disorder (SG1). The duration of vertigo episodes was also estimated to be prolonged in peripheral and mixed types of vestibular disorders. The percentage of individuals with peripheral and mixed vestibular disorders increased significantly with increasing MV episode durations.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In advanced stages of Parkinson's disease (PD) beside resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, most patients reveal severe balance instability. The goal of this study is to determine objectively postural control changes using static posturography after neurosurgical treatment (unilateral posteroventrolateral pallidotomy). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 15 patients with advanced idiopathic PD underwent unilateral posteroventrolateral pallidotomy. The study group was composed of 8 men and 7 women. The mean disease duration until operation was 12.5+/-3.5 years, and the mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 65.8+/-4.1 years. Postural control changes were assessed objectively by static computerized posturography and subjectively according to items of posture, gait and postural stability derived from Part III (motor examination) UPDRS. All evaluations of the balance system were performed preoperatively in the off and on condition, and also two weeks postoperatively in the same conditions. RESULTS: It was found that the majority of posturographic parameters in the off condition were improved after neurosurgical treatment. The improvement in the on condition was less pronounced. For example, the mean path length in the off condition during eyes opened was 318+/-159 mm before pallidotomy, and after surgery it was 240.9+/-119.2 mm in off. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.005, t=3.11). CONCLUSIONS: Pallidotomy improves postural control changes in the early postoperative period, which can be proved by static computerized posturography.

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