[Microsurgery of the temporal bone (author's transl)].

Microsurgery of the temporal bone has opened a new frontier in otology, neurosurgery and head and neck surgery. The operative approaches used to reach the most hidden supra-, retro-, infra- and premeatal regions of the temporal bone are described and their surgical uses are illustrated. Particular attention has been paid to the subtotal petrosectomy with permanent anterior transposition of the facial nerve and is indicated for the extirpation of large infra- and premeatal tumors as well as for the repair of sub- and infratemporal aneurysms of the internal carotid artery.