Facial canal dehiscence: a report of 1,465 stapes operations.

We retrospectively reviewed 1,465 stapes operations for facial canal dehiscences. The incidence of facial canal dehiscence was found to be 11.4%. A facial canal dehiscence with protrusion of the facial nerve is more common than a dehiscence without protrusion. In addition, 3 cases (0.2%) had a herniation of the facial nerve. Our data suggests that heredity could be one of the factors associated with a facial canal dehiscence. If an operated ear shows a dehiscent facial canal, there is a 29% possibility that the contralateral ear also has a dehiscence. Bilaterality of facial canal dehiscence is, therefore, exceptional.