Anatomic limitations of posterior exposure of the sinus tympani.
OBJECTIVE
The sinus tympani is a challenging area for the otologic surgeon to access and from which to remove the disease process. Recently, a posterior approach to the sinus tympani through the mastoid was proposed as an alternative technique in cases of deep sinus tympani.


METHODS
The posterior approach was performed by dissecting the triangular bony area formed by the facial nerve, lateral semicircular canal, and posterior semicircular canal in 8 temporal bone specimens.


RESULTS
The edges of the triangle on the facial nerve and lateral semicircular canal were almost constant at 5 mm. The edge on the posterior semicircular canal was about 4 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to expose the sinus tympani from the posterior by careful dissection through this triangle, which has almost constant dimensions.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Celel Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. asimas98@yahoo.com
Asim
A
Aslan
Gulay
G
Guclu
Ibrahim
I
Tekdemir
Alaittin
A
Elhan
D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000033:anatomy & histology*