Total ear canal ablation in a 5 year old Cocker Spaniel

Abstract

A five year old female spayed Cocker Spaniel presented with a history of chronic otitis externa. Initial diagnostics revealed bilateral stenotic and calcified ear canals. Because the right ear canal was slightly more stenotic than the left, the total ear canal ablation with lateral bulla osteotomy (TECA-LBO) was performed on the right ear first. The animal recovered well from the procedure. Otitis externa is an inflammatory process of the externa ear, and it is one of the most common diseases seen in small animal practice. The causes of otitis externa are numerous and often categorized into predisposing factors, primary causes, secondard causes, and perpetuating factors. For chronic otitis externa cases that respond poorly to medical therapy or neoplasia within the ear canals, surgical treatment may be accomplished via lateral ear canal resection, vertical canal ablation, or total ear canal ablation. Total ear canal ablation is warranted to patients with end-stage chronic otitis externa non-responsive to medical treatment, failed lateral or vertical ear canal resection, neoplasia within horizontal ear canal, and stenotic/calcified ear canals.