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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy
Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 6/2012

01-08-2012 | Original Article

Surgical anatomy of the chorda tympani: a micro-CT study

Authors: Lauren J. McManus, Patrick J. D. Dawes, Mark D. Stringer

Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy | Issue 6/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

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.
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Metadata
Title
Surgical anatomy of the chorda tympani: a micro-CT study
Authors
Lauren J. McManus
Patrick J. D. Dawes
Mark D. Stringer
Publication date
01-08-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy / Issue 6/2012
Print ISSN: 0930-1038
Electronic ISSN: 1279-8517
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-012-0941-z

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