Subtotal petrosectomy. Our surgical skills include this operation on the petrous bone.
This highly complex operation brings together ear surgery and surgery of the lateral skull base. In this case the temporal bones are the focus. These bony portions of the human skull are part of the temporal bone and the hardest bone in the human head. The bony structure houses both the inner ear, the main artery the internal carotid artery, the largest venous channel in the head (going by the medical name sigmoid sinus), and the nervus facialis, or facial nerve.
The surgical technique to remove part of the temporal bone, which we call subtotal petrosectomy, is extremely complex. The surgeon must be sufficiently skilled to ensure that these anatomical structures are preserved. That is our top priority. It is unsurprising that removal of large portions of the temporal bone with preservation of these vital structures is considered to be one of the most challenging procedures.
There are several variations of the subtotal petrosectomy. It can thus be performed without closure of the external auditory canal, with or without facial nerve displacement, with or without preservation of the inner ear and with or without displacement of the main artery of the head. The subtotal petrosectomy is the foundation of surgical correction in this region of the lateral skull base. The subtotal petrosectomy is the key to effective and gentle surgical correction procedures to remove aggressively infected bone; resection of a tumour of the lateral skull base is the focus being performed as gently and successfully as possible services for the successful and gentle therapy. Depending on the initial diagnosis, it may also make sense, or be necessary, to implant cochlear implants in the ear.
Patient information:
As every human being is different and in medicine, because of its very nature, the success of a method cannot be guaranteed, all of our patients receive information before the treatment starts about the procedure, possible alternatives and even about possible risks and complications. Because we want to achieve the best possible care in partnership with you.