Floating petrous bone fracture and total facial nerve decompression

Total facial nerve decompression via a combined transmastoid transtemporal approach in a child whose compressible skull was partially crushed in a traffic accident causing a floating petrous bone fracture is contemplated. The peculiarity of the fracture line and the type of fracture [floating petrous bone], as well as the operative findings and post-operative results encouraged us to present this case to be added to the previous three cases reported in the literature