Clinical experience in otology/neurotology takes place at three separate sites and is overseen by Drs. Greg Ator and Hinrich Staecker. The “Red Rotation” at KU consists of one day of otology clinic, and four to five days of otology operating time at the main OR and at the KU MedWest outpatient facility. A chief resident and a PGY-3 or PGY-4 covers the service. Otologic surgery is also performed at the VA Medical Center and at Children’s Mercy Hospital, increasing the residents’ exposure to a wide variety of disease processes. A complete range of clinical opportunities is available in the division. Pediatric and adult chronic ear procedures are performed on a regular basis. In addition, middle ear exploration, stapedectomy and ossicular reconstruction are standard at all hospitals. An ample vestibular surgery experience is available with emphasis on conservation procedures for Ménière’s disease (intratympanic therapy, endolymphatic sac decompression), with occasional ablative procedures. Our cochlear implant program currently implants Nucleus®, MED-EL and Advanced Bionics devices and performs 70 adult and pediatric cases per year. Lateral skull base procedures and cerebellopontine angle (CPA) surgery are also available as part of the Skull Base Surgery Team. A team approach with members of the Department of Neurosurgery is utilized for many of these cases.

Training in otology and neurotology begins with didactic lectures given during the annual Temporal Anatomy and Dissection Bone Course. This complements the otology/neurotology lectures given as part of the routine didactic conference and lecture schedule, The annual temporal bone course (6 weeks) includes operative training on cadaveric temporal bones, as well as a detailed curriculum on anatomy, common otologic diseases, and historical, as well as present day, medical and surgical treatments. Residents are also expected to engage in self-directed dissections in the temporal bone laboratory with a minimum of ten bones drilled each year. The complete modern temporal bone dissection facility is available at all times for this educational opportunity. Since almost all otologic procedures can be performed in the laboratory, this is an extremely important part of the resident experience in otology. A special set of instrumentation in also available for use in stapedectomy surgery. The temporal bone lab was renovated in 2008 and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

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