Aberrant course of the facial nerve.
In our patient the facial nerve was situated in the external bony ear canal without bony protection just below the skin in the lower part of the external ear canal 2 to 3 mm lateral to the tympanic membrane. This abnormal position involves a greate risk of damage to the facial nerve by incisions in the ear canal prior to surgical intervention of the middle ear.
D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery