, Vincent Y. W. Lin2 and Joseph M. Chen2
(1)
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
(2)
Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Electronic supplementary material
Supplementary material is available in the online version of this chapter at 10.1007/978-3-7091-1490-2_1. Videos can also be accessed at http://www.springerimages.com/videos/978-3-7091-1489-6.
The thorough knowledge of the complex anatomy of the temporal bone builds the firm basis for ear surgery. Even for experienced surgeons, reinforcement of their skills by training on the cadaver is of tremendous importance.
Temporal bone surgery is based upon a clear understanding of relative landmarks in a three-dimensional construct, while absolute measurements are meaningless. A lateral to medial approach in the gradual identification of key landmarks is the essence of a safe and efficient technique. Follow the order of uncovering landmarks described in this manual; avoid locating a deeper structure (e.g., the facial nerve) prior to the identification of important reference points (e.g., Incus and lateral semicircular canal).
The typical surgical setup is shown in Fig. 1.1
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