En-bloc Auriculectomy for Removal of a Large Pinna-Based Ear Mass in a Horse.
Abstract: A 15-year-old Pony of America (POA) gelding presented for evaluation of a large mass present on the right external pinna. Based on gross appearance, the right ear mass was suspected to be neoplastic. The most likely differential diagnosis was that of a fibroblastic sarcoid. Complete auriculectomy via use of a constricting latex-tourniquet performed under multimodal analgesia was proposed as an option to achieve complete resolution of mass growth and improve patient comfort. Benefits of latex tourniquet constriction included immediate lack of bleeding associated with amputation, gradual ischemic necrosis and sloughing of tissue distant to the site of constriction, and cost-effective application. The external pinna sloughed 3 weeks following application of the constricting latex tourniquet. Complete healing was achieved within 3 months from the time of tourniquet application. The middle ear canal sealed closed as a result of auriculectomy, with no observed long-term discomfort or morbidity aside from reduction in hearing. This is the first report of total external ear amputation in the horse. Complete auriculectomy via use of a constricting latex tourniquet is a feasible method for en-bloc removal of large, complicated ear masses.
Copyright © 2020 Silverstone, Tatarniuk, Durket and Gillen.
Publication Date: 2020-10-30 PubMed ID: 33195536PubMed Central: PMC7661778DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.560379Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research presents a case study of a 15-year-old horse treated for a suspected cancerous growth on the right ear. The condition was resolved by complete removal of the external ear, a procedure made possible by the use of a constricting latex tourniquet, resulting in the tissue’s eventual sloughing off. The treatment was deemed successful due to the mass’s complete removal, the horse’s comfort improvement, and the lack of long-term discomfort or health issues besides reduced hearing.
Objective
The primary objective of this research was to present an effective method for dealing with large, potentially cancerous masses in a horse’s pinna through complete auriculectomy using a constricting latex tourniquet under multimodal analgesia.
Methods
- The research was focused on a 15-year-old horse diagnosed with a large mass on its right external pinna, suspected to be a result of fibroblastic sarcoid, a type of skin tumor in horses.
- The option to surgically remove the entire mass was proposed given its size and complicated nature.
- The method involved applying a constricting latex tourniquet, causing immediate lack of bleeding during the amputation, subsequent gradual ischemic necrosis, and eventual sloughing of the tissue away from the constriction site. This proved to be a cost-effective method.
- Post procedure, the external pinna completely sloughed off three weeks after tourniquet application, and complete healing was achieved within three months from the time of tourniquet application.
Results and Conclusion
- The results post auriculectomy showed that the middle ear canal sealed itself off, indicating successful wound healing.
- Importantly, the procedure did not cause long-term discomfort or morbidity for the horse, other than a resulting reduction in hearing.
- The outcome demonstrates that complete auriculectomy via the use of a constricting latex tourniquet is a feasible method for the en-bloc removal of large, complicated ear masses in horses.
- The research concluded with the remark that this is the first reported instance of a total external ear amputation in a horse.
Implications
- The findings shared in this research offer veterinarians a new, effective, and low-cost methodology to consider with regards to treating large masses or tumors in a horse’s ear.
- This is especially relevant in cases where traditional methods may be less effective or may cause substantial discomfort or health issues for the horse.
Cite This Article
APA
Silverstone AM, Tatarniuk DM, Durket E, Gillen AM.
(2020).
En-bloc Auriculectomy for Removal of a Large Pinna-Based Ear Mass in a Horse.
Front Vet Sci, 7, 560379.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.560379 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA, United States.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA, United States.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA, United States.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, IA, United States.
References
This article includes 19 references
- Sisson S, Grossman DJ. Equine head. (1953) p. 322–5.
- Stewart WC, Baker GJ. Aural squamous cell carcinoma in the horse: a case report. Equine Vet J (1975) 7:210–11.
- Fjordbakk CT, Kennedy DG, Rodriguez-Palacios A, Keller S, Stalker M. Inflammatory aural polyp in a horse. Can Vet J (2006) 47:65–6.
- Bowers JR, Slocombe RF. Auricular chondrosis in a horse. Aust Vet J (2009) 87:219–21.
- Torres SM, Malone ED, White SD, Koch SN, Watson JL. The efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara®) in the treatment of aural plaque in horses: a pilot open-label clinical trial. Vet Derm (2010) 21:503–9.
- Ahmadi N, Oryan A, Ghane M, Geramizadeh B. Schwannoma of the external auditory canal in a filly: a case report. J Eq Vet Sci (2013) 33:1012–5.
- Skärlina EM, Tvedten HW, Roberts VL, Gorvy DA. Resection of a ceruminous adenocarcinoma in a horse by a modified vertical ear canal ablation. Eq Vet Educ (2015) 27:462–6.
- McCauley CT, Hawkins JF, Adams SB, Fessler JF. Use of a carbon dioxide laser for surgical management of cutaneous masses in horses: 32 cases (1993–2000). J Am Vet Med Assoc (2002) 220:1192–7.
- Lane JG. The treatment of equine sarcoids by cryosurgery. Eq Vet J (1977) 9:127–33.
- Zwingenberger A, Parks A, Downs M. Lateral ear canal resection and segmental pinnal excision in a horse to remove a sarcoid. Eq Vet Educ (2002) 14:230–3.
- Hewes CA, Sullins KE. Review of the treatment of equine cutaneous neoplasia. Vol. 55 Las Vegas: (2009). p. 387–93.
- Stafford KJ, Mellor DJ. The welfare significance of the castration of cattle: a review. New Zealand Vet J (2005) 53:271–8.
- Arnold CE, Brinsko SP, Love CC, Varner DD. Use of a modified Vinsot technique for partial phallectomy in 11 standing horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc (2010) 237:82–6.
- McCoy AM, Schaefer E, Malone E. How to perform effective blocks of the equine ear. Vol. 53. Orlando, FL: (2007). p. 397–8.
- Dean NR, White HN, Carter DS, Desmond RA, Carroll WR, McGrew BM. Outcomes following temporal bone resection. Laryngoscope (2010) 120:1516–22.
- Schwab TM, Popovitch C, DeBiasio J, Goldschmidt M. Clinical outcome for MCTs of canine pinnae treated with surgical excision (2004–2008). J Am Animal Hosp Assoc (2014) 50:187–91.
- Heavner JC. Local anaesthetics. (1996). p. 30–6.
- Suri ML, Vijayan GP, Puri HC, Barat AK, Singh N. Neurological manifestations of frost-bite. Indian J Med Res (1978)67:292–9.
- Dalla Costa E, Minero M, Lebelt D, Stucke D, Canali E, Leach MC. Development of the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) as a pain assessment tool in horses undergoing routine castration. PLoS ONE (2014) 9:e92281.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists