Description
Total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy is considered a salvage procedure; some of the indications to perform this surgery include management of the following: extension of disease from the external ear canal into the middle ear, ceruminous gland adenocarcinomas, benign masses affecting the horizontal ear canal, failed lateral wall resection, avulsion of the external ear cartilages from the bulla. This procedure provides a challenge to the veterinary surgeon because the anatomy of this area may be unfamiliar to the general practitioner, there is a risk of significant intra-operative haemorrhage, and post-operative pain can be difficult to manage. In addition there is the risk of a number of post-operative complications including wound dehiscence, facial nerve paralysis, vestibular signs, recurrent abscessation and pinnal necrosis. In this lecture we review the relevant anatomy, the surgical procedure and the instrumentation that aids this surgery. We consider why these post-operative complications occur, how to avoid them when possible, and how to manage them when they do occur.