ACCREDITED CPD - SURGERY
Article sponsored by Petcam®
Total Ear Canal Ablation and
Lateral Bulla Osteotomy
BRYANSTON VETERINARY
HOSPITAL
Dr Ross Elliot BVSC MMedVet (Surg)
Bryanston Veterinary Hospital, 011 706 6023
Photo courtesy: Julia van Draanen, Valley Farm Animal Hospital
Total ear canal ablation and a lateral bulla osteotomy (TECA-BO) are
two separate procedures which are usually combined as a surgical
treatment for otitis externa and media.
The surgical procedure for a TECA-BO entails removal
of both the vertical and horizontal ear canal with all the
secretory epithelial lining of the middle ear. This surgery
has the potential for serious complications and should
not be performed unless the surgeon is familiar with the
anatomy of the ear and associated structures. A total
ear canal ablation should never be performed without
a lateral bulla osteotomy. If the bulla osteotomy is not
performed all the secretory lining of the middle ear is left
behind and this will increase the potential for complications by as much as 82%.
There are very few cases in dogs where a bulla osteotomy is performed without a total ear canal ablation. These
are otitis media in the presence of an intact tympanic
membrane. Neoplasia of the middle ear or polyps of the
middle ear in cats that have recurred after previous removal, generally a ventral bulla osteotomy is performed
in these cases as the ear canal cannot be removed and
the ventral bulla osteotomy is easier to perform.
A lateral ear canal resection or Zepps procedure has little place in the treatment o