Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2013 Nov;56(11):721-725. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2013.56.11.721.

A Case of Image-Guided Posterior Tympanotomy in Chronic Otitis Media

• Kang MY
• Jeong SW
• Yoon SW
• Kang MK

• KMID: 1922214
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2013.56.11.721

Abstract

Posterior tympanotomy is a procedure performed to access the posterior mesotympanum through a mastoid exposure while preserving the posterior external auditory canal wall. It is dangereous to drill the the site of procedure, as it is surrounded by incuidal fossa superiorly, facial nerve posteriomedially, and chorda tympani nerve anterolaterally, and forms a very narrow pathway. There is always a risk of surgical trauma involving important surgical structures, especially facial nerve and chorda tympani nerve. The development of image-guided surgery (IGS) has significantly improved the performance of many surgical procedures by aiding the identification of surgical landmarks, improving surgical outcomes, rendering the procedure safer and more efficient, especially for beginner otologic surgery, in revision operations, in cases of massive bleeding and tumor of complex anatomy. To see how IGS could help otologic surgeons to identify fine, important structures during posterior tympanotomy, we report a case of posterior tympanotomy in chronic otitis media, which was done using the image-guided surgical technique.

Keyword

Image-guided surgery; Navigation introduction; Posterior tympanotomy

MeSH Terms

Chorda Tympani Nerve
Ear Canal
Facial Nerve
General Surgery
Hemorrhage
Mastoid
Otitis Media*
Otitis*
Surgery, Computer-Assisted
Wounds and Injuries