Normal hearing after trauma with completely ectopic incus -- how possible?

OBJECTIVES

To report the rare case of a patient with complete incus dislocation after trauma showing normal hearing.

METHODOLOGY: Physical examination, audiometry, CT of temporal bone, and detection during operation.

RESULTS

The incus had become remotely located in the mastoid cavity, but the patient showed normal hearing because fibrous connections had preserved bony continuity.

CONCLUSION

This case demonstrates that disruption of the ossicular chain does not always require ossicular reconstruction.