Acoustic role of the buttress and posterior incudal ligament in human temporal bones.
OBJECTIVE
In middle ear surgery using intact ear canal wall techniques, the buttress, which is the bony bridge at the medial end of the posterior-superior bony ear canal, is commonly retained during posterior tympanotomy. In some cases, the surgical exposure may be improved by resectioning the buttress, and this requires sectioning the posterior incudal ligament. To date, the acoustic effects of removing the buttress with sectioning of the attached ligament have not been studied.


METHODS
Using a laser Doppler vibrometer system, 15 human cadaver temporal bones were measured with 80 dB sound pressure level at the tympanic membrane over the 0.1 to 10 kHz frequency range.


RESULTS
The resection of the buttress and sectioning the posterior incudal ligament had no effect on stapes footplate velocity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the posterior incudal ligament does not play a significant role in the acoustic function of the ossicles.
Hato
N
N
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA, USA.
Welsh
J T
JT
Goode
R L
RL
Stenfelt
S
S
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000162:Acoustics; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000502:physiology*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration