Multidirectional tomography in reconstructive middle ear surgery

The tomographic demonstration of essential structural details before reconstructive middle ear surgery with osseous auto- and homografts is described, and the preoperative information requirements are briefly discussed. The tomographic appearance of the different types of reconstruction is presented. The halfaxial and true lateral projections are to be preferred, if necessary complemented by the axial-pyramidal projection. Tomography may disclose obvious morphologic causes of absence of postoperative hearing improvement or secondary hearing impairment.