Research on location of the segment of the facial nerve being easy to damage in mastoid surgery in clinical

Objective To explore on location of the segments of the facial nerve being easy to damage in mastoid surgery.Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted according to the clinical data of 97cases with chronic suppurative otitis media performed with radical mastoidectomy (or radical mastoidectomy + tympanoplasty) from May 2010 to September 2012,and summarized the methods to locate the segment of the facial nerve being easy to damage in operation.Results ①One case of congenital defect of facial nerve canal was found in 97 cases.②The horizontal segments of the facial nerve of 97 cases were successfully located depending on combined/partial anatomic landmarks including eminence of the lateral semicircular canal,short limb of incus,cochlearform process,tympanic tegmen,stapes.③The pyramidal segment of facial nerve of 97 cases were successfully located depending on combined/partial anatomic landmarks including eminence of the lateral semicircular canal,short limb of incus.④The proximal part of vertical segment of the facial nerve of 97 cases were successfully located depending on combined /partial anatomic landmarks including short limb of incus,chorda tympani nerve,pyramidal eminence,eminence of the lateral semicircular canal.Conclusion The eminence of the lateral semicircular canal,short limb of incus,cochlearform process,tympanic tegmen,stapes,pyramidal eminence,chorda tympani nerve in the area in which the facial nerve being easy to damage are important landmarks by which the segment of facial nerve easy to damage might be located in mastoid surgery. Key words: Otitis media;  Facial nerve;  Mastoid surgery;  Area in which the facial nerve being easy to damage