Basic Surgery of the Temporal Bone

Abstract

A wide access to the mastoid provides a good overview and reduces the danger of damaging important structures. Select the size of the burr according to actual anatomy. At the beginning of the procedure a large-sized burr is preferable. Irrigation is necessary to remove bone dust and soft tissue from the burr to keep it sharp. Test the drill for fixation, rotation and spinning prior to actual bone work. The bone should be securely fixed in a temporal bone holder and should not move when touched with a rotating burr, to avoid damage to important structures (Fig. 1.1).