Accidental injury to the facial nerve where the bony canal defects are present may result with facial nerve dysfunction during otological surgery. Therefore, it is critical to know the incidence and the type of facial nerve dehiscences in the presence of normal development of the facial canal. The aim of this study is to review the site and the type of such bony defects in 144 patients operated...

Background The location of the sigmoid sinus within the mastoid cavity is quite variable. An anteriorly- displaced vertical segment of the sigmoid sinus constitutes an uncommon but dangerous anatomical variation that surgeons rarely encounter during surgery. In this variation, the sigmoid sinus lays underneath a very thin bony flap, which makes it easily damaged. Thus, an abrupt fatal bleeding ...