title: [Quality control following reconstructive middle ear surgery: from bench to bedside].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ongoing improvement of imaging quality nowadays focuses increasingly more on immediate quality evaluation of surgical measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rotational tomography (RT) has been experimentally proven to be an alternative imaging technique to computed tomography (CT) in terms of quality and postoperative localization of middle ear implants in temporal bones. Based on these results imaging parameters were determined in the form of a surgical check list in order to systematically check individual but important surgical reconstructive steps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive benefit of RT concerning immediate and significant postoperative quality control was confirmed by a patient study. The surgical check list was successfully implemented under clinical framework requirements. Among these standardized parameters the determined angulation of inserted middle ear implants was given outstanding significance due to the predictive value concerning functional outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RT procedure has been proven to be a reliable imaging tool for postoperative quality control following reconstructive middle ear surgery.
authors: Universitätsklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Deutschland, christian.offergeld@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Offergeld
mesh_terms: D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000592:standards*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*