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A bifid intra-tympanic facial nerve in association with a normal stapes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2006

J Ahmed ,
P Chatrath  and
J Harcourt
J Ahmed
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
P Chatrath
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
J Harcourt
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
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Abstract

A rare facial nerve anomaly was incidentally discovered whilst performing a tympanoplasty and ossicular reconstruction on a patient with an acquired unilateral conductive hearing loss. The nerve was seen to bifurcate and straddle a normal stapes superstructure as it ran posteriorly through the middle ear, a unique and as yet unreported combination. This case highlights the importance of vigilance regarding facial nerve anatomical variations encountered during middle-ear surgery thus avoiding inadvertent damage. The purported embryological mechanism responsible for such anomalies of the intra-tympanic facial nerve is discussed.

Keywords

Facial Nerve, Abnormalities, Ear, MiddleOval WindowOtological Surgical Procedures
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 120 , Issue 5 , May 2006 , pp. 414 - 415
Copyright
© 2006 JLO (1984) Limited

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