3D Temporal Bone Anatomy from the Surgeon's Perspective

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Mastery of temporal bone surgical anatomy often represents the biggest hurdle in the acquisition of otologic surgical skills. While illustrations and videos of surgical techniques are available, little attention has been paid to teaching anatomy from the surgeon's perspective. During residency, trainees must develop a fundamental understanding of temporal bone surgery in the dissection lab. Due to the limited availability of temporal bone specimens at most institutions, this occurs infrequently and often without the aid of direct supervision or high quality resources demonstrating steps of dissection.

In this session, participants will learn surgical anatomy and technique for otologic and neurotologic procedures (including skull base approaches for vestibular schwannoma) with the aid of high-resolution, three-dimensional photos of dissections with corresponding annotated views. Common "pitfalls" during dissection will be highlighted to instruct participants in safe, efficient otologic surgery. All photos were obtai ned by the presenter using stereoscopic photography.

This was presented at the AAO-HNSF Virtual Annual Meeting in 2020 and 2021 with high average score and presentation views, and then in person in 2022 and 2024 in full 3D with excellent scores. The presenters received several positive reviews and the content from this lecture has been featured in temporal bone courses and Neurotology fellowship curricula at several institutions, as well as the annual Neurotology fellow boot camp. Notably, the slides have been updated to include jugular foramen dissections in response to feedback we have received over time.