Retrolabyrinthine Approach

Indications

• The retrolabyrinthine approach is a hearing-preserving presigmoid approach that uses a mastoidectomy and skeletonization of the sigmoid sinus to expose the presigmoid dura behind the semicircular canals.

• The principal appeal of this approach is its ability to expose widely the posterior petrous face and cisternal portions of cranial nerves VII and VIII with a minimal degree of cerebellar retraction.

• The retrolabyrinthine approach additionally is used to identify and expose the superior petrosal sinus as a first step for division of the tentorium.