Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ear surgery risks in flat-faced dogs compared to other breeds
By Banks, Charlotte et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2023·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Influence of extreme brachycephalic conformation on perioperative complications associated with total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy in 242 dogs (2010-2020).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old French Bulldog was brought in for surgery to remove its ear canal due to chronic ear infections. This breed often shows more severe symptoms, like facial nerve issues and balance problems, compared to other dogs. While the surgery is technically challenging, the study found that the complication rates during and after surgery were similar for brachycephalic breeds like this one and other breeds. The dog recovered well after the procedure, which is common for these surgeries despite the breed's unique risks.
People also search for: French Bulldog ear infection treatment · dog ear canal surgery risks · brachycephalic dog surgery complications
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of extreme brachycephalic conformation on presenting signs, imaging findings, intraoperative and perioperative complications following total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy (TECA-LBO). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective study. ANIMALS: A total of 306 (n = 242 dogs) TECA-LBOs (extreme brachycephalic breeds [EBB] = 81, other breeds [OB] = 225). METHODS: Medical records of patients undergoing TECA-LBO at a single referral institution (2010-2022) were evaluated. RESULTS: Extreme brachycephalic breeds most commonly presented acutely, at a younger age with oto-neurological signs (46/81, 56.8%). Chronic otitis externa without neurological signs (171/225, 76.0%) was most common in OBs. Extreme brachycephalic breeds preoperatively presented more frequently with facial nerve paresis (p = .001), vestibular syndrome (p = .001), and Horner's syndrome (p = .002) compared to OBs. On diagnostic imaging, bilateral changes (p = .038), aural masses (p = .045), para-aural abscesses (p = .011), otitis interna (p = .001), and brainstem changes (p = .001) were more common in EBBs. The apparent difference in intraoperative complication rate between EBBs (9/81, 11.1%) and OBs (12/225, 5.3%) did not reach statistical significance (p = .078). Perioperative complications occurred in 85/306 (27.8%) of TECA-LBOs with no difference in perioperative complication rate between EBBs (19/81, 23.5%) and OBs (66/225, 29.3%) (p = .586). CONCLUSION: Extreme brachycephalic breeds are more likely to present for TECA-LBO acutely, with neurological signs and more advanced diagnostic imaging abnormalities. Intra- and perioperative complication rates did not differ between EBBs and OBs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Despite being subjectively more technically challenging, TECA-LBO did not result in more surgical complications in EBBs. Reported data are useful for effectively informing clients of the specific risks of TECA-LBO surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37128636/