Scala tympani drill-out technique for oval window atresia with malformed facial nerve: A report of three cases

ObjectiveTo report a scala tympani drill-out technique for managing malformed facial nerve covering the entire oval window (OW).MethodsData from three cases with OW atresia, malformed stapes and abnormal facial nerve courses were reported, in which a scala tympani drill-out technique was employed with a TORP between the tympanic membrane and scala tympani fenestration for hearing reconstruction.ResultsAir conduction hearing improved in two of the three cases following surgery. In the third case, there was no improvement in air conduction hearing following a canal wall up mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty. There were no vertigo, tinnitus or sensorineural hearing loss in the three cases.ConclusionThe scala tympani drill-out technique, which is basically fenestration at the initial part of the basal turn, provides a choice in hearing reconstruction when the OW is completely covered by abarrently coursed facial nerve.