Temporal Bone Course

This extensive five-day course is designed as a complete temporal bone dissection course for the resident or fellow in training or as an update for the practicing otolaryngologist. The course seeks to improve the surgical skill of participants through a series of dissection exercises and review of topics in otology, neurotology and skull base surgery.

Upon completion of the course, participants will understand clinical decision making and will have improved basic temporal bone dissection skills so as to avoid technical errors in performing ear surgery, thus leading to fewer patient complications. Dissection exercises include: 

  • Canal wall down mastoidectomy
  • Facial nerve decompression
  • Facial recess dissection
  • Intact canal wall mastoidectomy
  • Meatoplasty
  • Middle cranial fossa and lateral approaches to the temporal bone
  • Ossicular reconstruction
  • Stapedectomy
  • Translabyrinthine approach to internal auditory canal
  • Transmastoid labyrinthectomy
  • Tympanoplasty

Emphasis will be placed on providing the physician with a conceptual understanding of the three-dimensional temporal bone anatomy. The course emphasizes intensive hands-on dissection under faculty supervision for six hours daily, rather than observation of videotapes or live surgery.  

2024 Course Dates

The course is offered four times a year and is limited to 14 physicians per course. Click on the dates below to register.

The cancellation and refund policy has changed as of October 2023. Please review prior to registering.

Program Schedule

U-M faculty and prominent visiting professors contribute their expertise in the laboratory and through daily lectures. Lecture topics are listed below. Three additional lectures will be provided on other pertinent topics by the distinguished guest professor. We begin promptly at 8 a.m. in the Temporal Bone Lab, Room 4643 in the Med Sci II Building. 

Monday

  • 8 a.m. Welcome/Drilling Instruction and Topographic Anatomy
  • 9 a.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Cortical Mastoidectomy, Canalplasty and Middle Ear
  • 12 p.m. Lunch/Chronic Otitis Media and Mastoid Procedures
  • 1 p.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy, Facial Nerve Dissection and Endolymphatic Sac
  • 4 p.m. Radiology of the Ear and Temporal Bone

Tuesday

  • 8 am. Tympanoplasty Techniques
  • 9 a.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Intact Canal Wall Mastoidectomy, Facial Recess Approach and Transmastoid Labyrinthectomy
  • 12 p.m. Lunch/Otosclerosis and Stapedectomy
  • 1 p.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Facial Nerve Decompression and Endolymphatic Sac
  • 4 p.m. Cochlear Implant Basics

Wednesday 

  • 8 am. Neurotologic Skull Base Surgery
  • 9 a.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Translabyrinthine Approach to IAC, and ICW Mastoidectomy and Cochleostomy
  • 12 p.m. Lunch/Surgical Treatment of Facial Nerve Disorders
  • 1 p.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Middle Cranial Fossa Approach, and Middle Ear and Eustachian Tube from Above
  • 5 p.m. Lecture by Guest Faculty

Thursday

  • 7 a.m. Grand Rounds: Guest Faculty
  • 8 a.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Tympanomeatal Flap, Middle Ear Exploration, Stapedectomy and Ossicular Chain Reconstruction
  • 12 p.m. Lunch/Lecture by Guest Faculty
  • 1 p.m. Elective Temporal Bone Dissection Activities
  • 4 p.m. Temporal Bone Anatomy/Embryology; Common Clinical Pathology

Friday

  • 8 a.m. Vestibular Disorders & Medical Management
  • 9 a.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Extended Facial Recess Approach, Lateral Temporal Bone Resection
  • 12 p.m. Lunch/ Vestibular Surgery & Patient Disorders
  • 1 p.m. Temporal Bone Dissection: Facial Nerve Mobilization, Approaches to Petrous Apex and Infratemporal Fossa Approach to Skull Base
  • 1:30 p.m. Optional Vestibular Testing Lab Tour
  • 4 p.m. Adjournment

Faculty Instructors       

Dr. Emily Stucken

Emily Stucken, M.D.
Temporal Bone Course Director
Clinical Associate Professor
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Otology-Neurotology

 

Dr. Alex Arts
Henry Arts M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor Emeritus
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

  

Dr. Renee Banakis-Hartl, M.D., Au.D.

Renee Banakis-Hartl, M.D., Au.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Otology-Neurotology

 

Dr. Greg Basura

Gregory Basura M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Otology-Neurotology

 

Dr. Hussam El-Kashlan

Hussam El-Kashlan, M.D.
Professor and Associate Chair
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Chief, Division of Otology-Neurotology

 

Dr. Marc Thorne

Marc Thorne, M.D.
Clinical Professor and Associate Chair
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Chief, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology

 

Dr. Christopher Welch
Christopher Welch, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Division of Otology-Neurotology

Travel Instructions

Driving

  • The laboratory is located at 1150 W. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
    • 870 miles from Quebec City
    • 1500 miles from New Mexico
    • 2400 miles from San Francisco, California
    • 250 miles from Chicago, Illinois

Airport

  • The closest airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)

Airport Transportation  

  • Reliable Airport Service 734-260-8615 - please call ahead to pre-arrange service and they keep track of your flight to ensure they are at the airport when you land
  • Uber or Lyft Apps will also provide transportation to and from the airport

Train 

  • Amtrak Train station within walking distance of the laboratory

Accommodations

Ann Arbor has many options for accommodations. A few choices are:

 

Maps

For More Information

Lisa Steblton
Course Coordinator
(734) 764-6106
[email protected]