title: Surgical anatomy of the chorda tympani: a micro-CT study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Iatrogenic injury of the chorda tympani is a well-known complication of middle ear surgery, yet few studies have investigated the intraosseous course of the nerve. The aim of this study was to accurately delineate the posterior canaliculus in the temporal bone, particularly its relationship to the tympanic annulus, which is critical during the insertion of subannular ventilation tubes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty temporal bones from 27 cadavers (15 male, mean age 75 years, 13 bilateral) were scanned using a micro-CT scanner, and standardised 3-D multiplanar reconstructions were generated using a software platform. The posterior canaliculus was measured in relation to reproducible bony landmarks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 6 (15%) specimens, the chorda tympani originated from the facial nerve outside the skull and in 34 (85%) from within the facial canal at a mean of 3.2 ± 1.8 mm above the stylomastoid foramen. The posterior canaliculus was 12.3 ± 3.8 mm long and converged on the tympanic sulcus cranially. It entered the middle ear at 62 ± 10% of the height of the tympanic membrane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel micro-CT study defines the precise anatomy of the posterior canaliculus housing the chorda tympani and provides data that may help the otologic surgeon protect the nerve from iatrogenic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Patrick J D
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stringer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002814:Chorda Tympani Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*