Mediterr J Otol 2005:1(3):128-135.

Enlarged Middle Fossa Surgery: Indications, Advantages, and Surgical Technique

Mislav Gjurić
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, KBC Šalata, University of Zagreb, Croatia, mgjuric@kbc-zagreb.hr

In this article, the indications for, advantages of, and technique for performing surgery of the temporal bone and cerebellopontine angle via the enlarged middle cranial fossa approach are reviewed. Nine hundred sixty-two patients who underwent that procedure between 1979-1997 in a tertiary referral center were studied. Performing enlarged middle cranial fossa surgery, which is a demanding procedure, requires extensive training. That approach, however, is irreplaceable in the treatment of a variety of diseases (facial nerve disorders, vestibular schwannomas, other neoplastic and inflammatory temporal bone diseases) and in vestibular neurectomy for patients with Meniere´s disease.