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James J Holt

Publications and source records attributed to James J Holt.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The ponticulus: an anatomic study.

HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to resolve anatomic ambiguities of the ponticulus so the surgeon will be better able to remove disease from the posterior tympanum. BACKGROUND: The first step in refining an operative approach is to acquire a thorough understanding of the anatomy. A detailed study of one structure of the posterior tympanum, the ponticulus, has not yet been reported. METHODS: Fifty temporal bone plugs harvested from human cadavers were studied. The presence or absence of the ponticulus, its configuration, and its proximity to other middle ear structures were recorded for each temporal bone. RESULTS: There was complete formation of the ponticulus in 33 of the 50 specimens. In 7, only a remnant of the ponticulus formed, and it was completely absent in 10 of the 50 specimens. In the 33 specimens in which the ponticulus was present, it measured less than 1 mm in thickness in 22, it was larger than 1 mm in 7, and in 4 specimens it extended down to the floor of the middle ear as a sheet of bone. In 8 specimens, the ponticulus lay just adjacent to the stapes. CONCLUSION: The ponticulus is present in the majority of ears. It is best defined as a bridge of bone from the pyramidal eminence to the promontory and most commonly occurs as a thin, bony structure. This definitive study of the ponticulus will allow the otologic surgeon to better remove disease from the posterior tympanum.

Ear, Middle↗
PubMed2004

A new method of studying the anatomy of the posterior tympanum.

The anatomic position of the posterior tympanum compromises direct visualization and investigation of its structures. Therefore, assessment of its anatomy is limited, and surgical removal of disease in this area remains a challenge. In this article, the author describes a new method that can be used to fully expose, visualize, and measure the structures in the posterior tympanum, thereby allowing for further definition of the anatomy and, in turn, refinement of surgical techniques for the removal of disease in this portion of the middle ear. The new technique involves removal of the anterior canal bone and its overlying tissues to eliminate the mechanical barriers to the posterior tympanum, which allows for direct visualization and measurement of the posterior tympanic structures. This method has three primary advantages over other methods used to study the posterior tympanum. First, observations of the anatomy can be made under direct visualization. Second, this method permits investigators to study the anatomy and the relationships between structures of the posterior tympanum as they occur in their normal unaltered state. Third, this method allows for wide anterior access to the posterior tympanum, thereby making scientific research into its anatomy possible. Information obtained from future studies of this method can help further refine surgical techniques for removal of disease from the posterior tympanum.

Cadaver↗