TREATMENT OF RECURRENT OTITIS-MEDIA THAT DEVELOPED AFTER TOTAL EAR CANAL ABLATION AND LATERAL BULLA OSTEOTOMY IN DOGS - 9 CASES (1986-1994)

Objective-To assess clinical findings and long-term outcome of dogs tr eated for recurrent middle ear infection that developed after total ea r canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy. Design-Retrospective cas e series. Animals-Of 94 dogs (142 ears) treated by means of total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy for end-stage otitis, 9 dev eloped recurrent middle ear infection. Procedure-information regarding treatment and outcome were retrieved from the medical records. Result s-Antibiotic treatment was attempted in 8 dogs, but failed to cure rec urrent otitis media in 7 of 8 dogs. Seven dogs were treated by means o f exploratory surgery, which consisted of ventral bulla osteotomy and tympanic curettage. One dog was cured, 1 developed another infection a nd was euthanatized, and the 5 remaining dogs developed another middle ear infection after the first exploratory surgery. Infection resolved after retained epithelium was removed from the tympanic cavity during a second exploratory surgery of the bulla in these 5 dogs. Clinical I mplications-Antibiotic treatment rarely is effective for resolving rec urrent middle ear infection that develops after total ear canal ablati on and lateral bulla osteotomy. Ventral bulla osteotomy and curettage can be a successful method of treatment, provided retained epithelium and debris are completely removed from ?he ear canal and tympanic cavi ty.