Objectives: The h-index is a measure of research output and contribution that shows strong correlation with academic promotion in medicine. The purpose of this paper is to clearly explain how h-index scores are calculated and how otolaryngologists can effectively and advantageously use these scores for their career development. Design: We performed an up-to-date PubMed literature review describing the design of h-index and how to use it effectively along with its role in academic medicine including otolaryngology. Results: H-index scores are used as a metric for scientific output which considers the number of publications and the number of times each paper was cited. Search engines can automatically calculate h-index scores for one’s work. Studies also revealed significant positive impacts h-index has from fellowship involvement which later translates to career advancement in academic medicine. Aspiring academic otolaryngologists should create a research profile to link and calculate h-index for publications, submit to well-read high impact journals for increased viewership and citations, and expand on foundational and personal research topics. Conclusions: Future studies should evaluate faculty and resident awareness of h-indices in the otolaryngology department to see how we can further address any underlying barriers. Otolaryngologists with the knowledge and tools necessary to maximize h-index scores and to produce high quality research in modern day medicine not only provides advantages in career development, but also brings significant contribution to the field of otolaryngology.

Objectives: There has been anecdotal evidence that otalgia and ear fullness are associated with a deviated nasal septum (DNS). The goal of this novel, pilot study is to evaluate if eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is associated with a DNS and improved following septoplasty. Design: Prospective comparative pilot study Setting: Tertiary hospital at an academic institution Participants: Twenty-five patients with septal deviations (16 with otalgia and 9 controls) underwent septoplasty with inferior turbinate reduction between November 2016 and May 2018. Main Outcome Measures: ETDQuestionnaire (ETDQ-7), Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) assessed quality of life pre and post operation. Results: Mean SNOT-22 scores decreased significantly for both groups (p< 0.05). The results of the ETDQ-7 showed aural symptoms significantly decreased for case patients at 6 weeks (-17.4, p=0.016) which continued through week 12. Symptoms of ear fullness and pain were significantly reduced in the case group (p<0.05). With both groups experienced a reduction in all questionnaires, decreased SNOT-22 scores correlated with ETDQ-7 (p=0.0012) and NOSE (p<0.036) improvements while the control group did not see test correlations. Conclusions: Overall, our study demonstrated otalgia or ear fullness could be associated with a DNS. The data suggests significant correlations between all three questionnaires in evaluating patients with nasal obstruction and aural symptoms, and that they are reasonable tools in evaluating ETD outcomes concerning septoplasty. Thus, we propose that nasal septum deviation be evaluated and included in any algorithm for the diagnosis and management of patients with ETD.