Abstract
We presented 2 cases of congenital absence of the oval window. In the first case, the stapes and the oval window were absent, and the facial nerve was found to run inferiorly. Fenestration of the vestibule was performed superior to the malpositioned facial nerve, and the ossicular chain was reconstructed with a Teflon wire piston. In the second case, the facial nerve was normal, and fenestration of the vestibule was performed where the oval window was supposed to exist. The otic capsule was very thick at the fenestra. The hearing level improved, postoperatively, in both cases.
In congenital absence of the oval window, satisfactory postoperative hearing results can be obtained, even in the cases with facial nerve anomaly or thick otic capsule at the fenestra, sometimes making it difficult to perform the surgery.
