The facial nerve coursing across the promontory with a persistent stapedial artery

A case of congenital bilateral conductive deafness is described. Some years ago absence of the oval window was found in the left ear. Exploratory tympanotomy of the right ear revealed a large persistent stapedial artery while the facial nerve took its course from the geniculate ganglion straight down across the promontory anteriorly of the stapedial artery.