Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between facial nerve bony canal defect and middle ear pathologies.

METHODS: The study included a total of 262 patients (144 males, 118 females; mean age 39 years; range, 12 to 72 years) who were performed 282 tympanomastoidectomies. Patients’ intraoperatively obtained ossicular bone defects, external ear canal posterior canal defects, scutum defects, otic capsule defects, middle fossa bone defects, petrous apex defects, lateral sinus wall defects, revision surgery statuses, and canal wall down/canal wall up surgery types were recorded. Bone defects were noted according to size in patients with facial nerve bony canal defect. Presence of any connection between bone defects and pathological defects was statistically evaluated. Size of bone defects were grouped according to their pathological diagnosis.

RESULTS: Facial nerve bony canal defect was more likely in the following conditions: presence of intraoperative cholesteatoma, presence of external ear canal posterior wall defect, presence of scutum erosion, complete absence of any of the ossicles or presence of defected malleus, canal wall down surgery requirement, or presence of lateral semicircular canal fistula. Facial nerve bony canal defect was larger in granular otitides.

CONCLUSION: Pre- and intraoperatively detected ossicular bone defects, otic capsule defects, histopathological diagnosis, and middle ear wall defects are informative about facial nerve bony canal defects.