We retrospectively reviewed 1,465 stapes operations for facial canal dehiscences. The incidence of facial canal dehiscence was found to be 11.4%. A facial canal dehiscence with protrusion of the facial nerve is more common than a dehiscence without protrusion. In addition, 3 cases (0.2%) had a herniation of the facial nerve. Our data suggests that heredity could be one of the factors associated with a facial canal dehiscence. If an operated ear shows a dehiscent facial canal, there is a 29% possibility that the contralateral ear also has a dehiscence. Bilaterality of facial canal dehiscence is, therefore, exceptional.
BaxterA. Dehiscence of the fallopian canal. J Laryngol Otol1971; 85: 587–94.
2.
GuildSR. Natural absence of part of the bony wall of the facial canal. Laryngoscope1949; 59: 668–73.
3.
DerlackiELShambaughGEJr. Harrison WH. The evolution of a stapes mobilization technique. Laryngoscope1957; 67: 420–47.
4.
KaplanJ. Congenital dehiscence of the fallopian canal in middle ear surgery. Arch Otolaryngol1960; 72: 65–8.
5.
MoreanoEHPaparellaMMZeltermanD. Prevalence of facial canal dehiscence and of persistent stapedial artery in the human middle ear: A report of 1000 temporal bones. Laryngoscope1994; 104: 309–20.
6.
CawthomeT. Membranous labyrinthectomy via the oval window for Meniere's disease. J Laryngol Otol1957; 71: 524–7.
7.
HoughJVD. Malformations and anatomical variations seen in the middle ear during the operation for mobilization of the stapes. Laryngoscope1958,68: 1337–79.
8.
ShambaughGEJr. Surgery of the ear. 1 st ed.Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders, 1959.
9.
TakahashiHSandoI. Facial canal dehiscence: Histologic study and computer reconstruction. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1992; 101: 925–30.
10.
JohnssonLGKingsleyTC. Herniation of the facial nerve in the middle ear. Arch Otolaryngol1970; 91: 598–602.
11.
BeddardDSaundersWH. Congenital defects in the fallopian canal. Laryngoscope1962; 72: 112–5.
