title: Abnormal facial nerve course associated with stapes fixation or oval window absence: report of two cases.
abstract: Congenital minor ear malformations are very uncommon. Their etiology can be explained by the embryological development of the middle ear structures. Their classification, diagnosis and treatment pose certain problems. We report on one case of congenital stapes fixation and one case of oval window absence, both associated with an abnormal facial nerve course. Good long-term results show that performing a platinotomy or vestibulotomy in cases of congenital stapes fixation or oval window absence can be a relatively safe procedure, even in presence of deviated facial nerve course. The literature and present classifications of minor ear malformations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Bellevue Hospital, St.-Etienne University Hospital Center, Boulevard Pasteur, 42055 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2, France. christian.martin@chu-st-etienne.fr
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oletski
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertholon
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prades
mesh_terms: D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D010046:Oval Window, Ear / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013199:Stapes / Q000002:abnormalities*