Classification and surgical outcomes of congenital middle ear malformations with concomitant facial nerve anomalies

To investigate the clinical classification and surgical outcomes of congenital middle ear malformations accompanied by facial nerve anomalies.

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Surgeons managing congenital middle ear malformations should be aware that concurrent facial nerve anomalies require careful pre-operative classification to guide surgical planning and reduce nerve injury risk; however, without access to the full data, specific protocol changes cannot yet be recommended.

Facial nerve anomalies significantly raise the risk of permanent facial paralysis during middle-ear surgery, so a reliable classification system could improve surgical safety and outcomes for this rare population.

1. 01Retrospective classification of congenital middle ear malformations co-occurring with facial nerve anomalies.
2. 02Study published in Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Chinese Medical Journal) in 2026.
3. 03Surgical outcomes were reported across the defined malformation subtypes.
4. 04Facial nerve anomalies increase operative complexity and risk of iatrogenic nerve injury.
5. 05Findings may inform pre-operative imaging protocols and surgical planning strategies.

PMID

42209174

DOI

10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20260211-00460.

Journal

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients with congenital middle ear malformations and concurrent facial nerve anomalies

Intervention

Surgical correction of congenital middle ear malformations with facial nerve anomalies