Intraoperative fallopian canal dehiscence in chronic otitis media

Abstract

Introduction:Chronic otitis media is a long-standing inflammation of the middle ear cleft and it is characterized by ear discharge and a permanent abnormality of the tympanic membrane.From clinical aspects, facial nerve is the most vulnerable structure in the otologic surgery because of it long and tortuous course in the temporal bone and occurrence of Fallopian canal dehiscence make it vulnerable and is one of the most common anatomical variation witnessed by an otologist during surgery. The present study has been undertaken with aim to find out prevalence of intraoperative fallopian canal dehiscence in chronic otitis media. Material and Methods: This was a one-year hospital based prospective cross-sectional study carried out in the department of otorhinolaryngology and Head and neck surgery, Rohilkhand medical college and hospital, Bareilly. A total of 54 patients of Chronic otitis media who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent surgery were enrolled in the study.Observations: Prevalence of Dehiscent facial nerve was 20.37% with maximum number of dehiscences were of 2-4mm dimension and cholesteatoma was the most common cause of dehiscence with 72.7% of dehiscences have duration of ear discharge greater than 10 years.Conclusion: The incidence of the fallopian canal dehiscence in otologic surgery is highly variable. The surgeon must keep in mind that any surgery which is performed in the middle ear could traumatize or damage the facial nerve at the site of the fallopian canal dehiscence.