Do we need imaging before middle ear surgery? When is imaging useful, when is it mandatory and when is it only interesting, profitable or defensive?

This article summarizes an opinion on preoperative imaging based upon a personal composite of observations and experience in otological and skull base surgery that spans 35 years in several Swiss and US academic centers and 10 years in private practice.

Teaching stapes surgery.

This paper is a review of concepts and methods presented as a tribute to a great pioneer and teacher, Harold Frederic Schuknecht. His book entitled Stapedectomy, published in 1971, is based on past experience of '6,200 stapedectomy operations over a period of 13 years' and on experience gained from teaching the procedure to numerous residents and fellows. His concepts are still valid and represent a solid base for teachers and students of this elegant but precarious procedure.

Anatomic and functional long-term results of canal wall-down mastoidectomy.

The objective of this study was to evaluate, over the long-term, the anatomic and functional outcome of canal wall-down mastoidectomy performed for chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma and chronic otomastoiditis resistant to all conservative treatment. The study was made through a retrospective review of 338 cases of consecutive primary canal wall-down mastoidectomies performed between 1974 and 1998. Included were 259 cases with sufficient data.

Short- and long-term results of stapedotomy and stapedectomy with a teflon-wire piston prosthesis.

We analyzed the results of 604 cases of primary stapes surgery performed between 1974 and 1997 with replacement of the stapes by a 0.6- or 0.8-mm Schuknecht Teflon-wire piston.

Histopathology of cochlear implants in humans.

The insertion of an intrascalar electrode array during cochlear implantation causes immediate damage to the inner ear and may result in delayed onset of additional damage that may interfere with neuronal stimulation. To date, there have been reports on fewer than 50 temporal bone specimens from patients who had undergone implantation during life. The majority of these were single-channel implants, whereas the majority of implants inserted today are multichannel systems.