En-bloc Auriculectomy for Removal of a Large Pinna-Based Ear Mass in a Horse.

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.