Revisit to Endolymphatic Duct Identification Using Middle Cranial Fossa Dural Plate: A Novel Technique.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery
• Anatomy

Background:

• Ménière's disease surgical treatments vary in efficacy, with endolymphatic duct blockage (EDB) favored for its low risk and hearing preservation.
• Accurate identification of the endolymphatic duct (ED) remains a significant challenge in performing EDB surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using the middle cranial fossa (MCF) dural plate as a reference point for identifying the ED opening.
• To measure the angle between the ED opening and the MCF dural plate to aid in simplifying EDB procedures.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving dissection of 20 wet temporal bones.
• Identification of the MCF dural plate and ED opening via cortical mastoidectomy and controlled drilling.
• Measurement of the angle between the ED opening and MCF dural plate using GIMP software.

Main Results:

• Consistent angles ranging from 36.00° to 45.99° were observed between the ED opening and the MCF dural plate.
• The MCF dural plate was confirmed as a reliable anatomical landmark for ED identification.

Conclusions:

• The MCF dural plate serves as a dependable anatomical landmark for surgeons to locate the ED.
• Accurate ED identification is achievable using this landmark, potentially leading to more efficient and precise surgical interventions for Ménière's disease.