ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Occlusion of semicircular canal has been used for otoneurologic and skull base surgery with preservation of postoperative hearing. However, research on healing process of the occluded bony semicircular canal is scarce. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We transected and occluded the lateral semicircular canal of guinea pigs using a surgical drill. Histopathologic changes of the temporal bones were observed up to the eighth postoperative week. RESULTS: The temporal bone specimens showed that ostcogenic cells proliferated from the perilymphatic fibrous mesh formed a new bone in the occluded portion of the lateral semicircular canal. Periosteal cells of the endosteum produced a compact bone layer lining the bony semicircular canal lumen. Periosteal layer produced a woven bone at the surgical defect of the lateral semicircular canal. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the perilymphatic fibrous mesh, the endosteum and the periosteal layer participated in osteogenesis in healing of the bony lateral semicircular canal after transection and occlusion.