The middle cranial fossa approach to the internal auditory canal -- an anatomical study stressing critical distances between surgical landmarks.

The middle cranial fossa approach to the internal auditory canal and petrous apex has proven to be an extremely useful otologic surgical procedure. Ths historical evolution of this approach and its present day application were reviewed. The purpose of the study was to describe the normal anatomical variations encountered during the course of the middle cranial fossa approach to the internal auditory canal. Measurements between surgical landmarks were made on 20 dissected, and 41 histologically sectioned temporal bones. The values obtained were statistically analyzed. Finally, the practical implication of the observed anatomical measurements and of the statistical evaluations were discussed.