TOTAL EAR CANAL ABLATION WITH LATERAL BULLA OSTEOTOMY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF END-STAGE OTITIS IN DOGS

Total ear canal ablation combined with lateral bulla osteotomy has bee n used to treat patients with end-stage otitis, neoplasia of the horiz ontal ear canal, failed lateral ear resection, and severe trauma to th e middle ear. End-stage otitis is defined as concurrent otitis externa and media occurring together with a deficient ear canal. In cases of end-stage otitis, surgical procedures on the vertical ear canal are of ten inadequate because of the irreversible,le pathologic changes in th e epithelium of the ear canal and concurrent otitis media. This articl e discusses the pathologic changes and clinical signs associated with chronic otitis, presurgical diagnostic aids, surgical procedures, and postsurgical complications in dogs treated with total ear canal ablati on and lateral bulla osteotomy.