Objectives: To determine the accuracy of a modern navigation system in temporal bone surgery. While routine in other specialties, navigation has had limited use in the temporal bone due to issues of accuracy, perceived impracticality, and value.
Study design: Prospective observational study.
Setting: Temporal bone laboratory.
Subjects and methods: Eighteen cadaveric specimens were dissected after rigid fiducials were implanted and computed tomography scans were obtained. Target registration and target localization errors were then measured at various points.
Results: The mean overall target registration error was 0.48 ± 0.29 mm. The mean target localization error was 0.54 mm at the sinodural angle, 0.48 mm at the lateral semicircular canal, 0.55 mm at the round window, 0.39 mm at the oval window, and 0.52 mm at the second genu of the facial nerve.
Conclusion: A modern navigation system demonstrated submillimeter accuracy for all points of interest. Its use in clinical as well as training settings has yet to be fully elucidated.
Keywords: image-guided surgery; intraoperative navigation; navigation; neurotologic surgery; otologic surgery; temporal bone surgery.