Fallopian canal stapedotomy in congenital stapes fixation with aberrant facial nerve

Congenital stapes ankylosis is reported to have an occurrence rate of 3% to 4%, and it represents 20% to 35% of ossicular malformations. Surgical treatment of congenital stapes ankylosis is described to be satisfactory in the large majority of the case series reported in the literature. In these cases, special attention should be paid to exclude any aberrations of the course of the facial nerve, which have been demonstrated to be frequently associated with congenital middle ear malformations. We describe a case of congenital stapes ankylosis associated with a previously unreported facial nerve abnormality, characterized by the presence of an empty fallopian canal in combination with a dehiscent facial nerve running over the footplate and almost totally covering it.