Validated Ossicular Measurements on High-Resolution Computed Tomography (CT) in Live and Cadaveric Temporal Bones

Objective The present study was undertaken to study the utility of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) temporal bone in live patients for providing the parameters of ossicular dimensions (OD), using standard assessment protocols, devised by the authors, with regard to the plane of CT scans and axes of measurement of ossicles. Methods This observational study was conducted from January 2021 to February 2022 at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawanghi, Meghe, Maharashtra, India, in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Department of Radiodiagnosis. HRCT scan was performed on temporal bones, 10 in live subjects with no otological complaints and 10 in cadaveric temporal bones. HRCT was also performed for all three ossicles after dissecting them out from the respective cadaveric temporal bones. Measurements of OD were taken using Universalmednet Software and vernier calipers and compared with published anatomic data. Results The measurements taken using HRCT scans of the live subject and cadaveric bone as well as the ossicles taken using calipers fall within the range of published studies. Slight variation is seen in the measurements of stapes and incus, stapes total height is 3.17mm, less than 3.3. Conventional HRCT temporal bone in live patients when performed under set circumstances can be adopted as a standard method for measurement of ossicular sizes for the generation of normative data for different races, ethnicity and sex. Conclusion The results of our study can have implications in terms of translational research as the measurements obtained can help in better understanding of middle ear biomechanics, prosthesis designing, developing ideal tympanoplasty methods in terms of size, shape and placement of autograft.