Surgical correction of ear curling caused by scar tissue formation in a horse.

This research is about the successful surgical treatment of a young horse’s ear deformity caused by tissue scarring. A novel surgery technique, together with appropriate materials, was used to heal the wound and restore the ear to its original shape without any major aesthetic changes.

Introduction

• The case study focuses on an 18-month-old Belgian Warmblood mare that had an external ear injury on the convex aspect of the left auricle.
• As the wound healed naturally, a process called second intention healing, the tissue contracted causing the ear to curl backwards.

Surgical Intervention

• The surgical procedure comprised a technique which involved the undermining of the skin and creation of a flap of granulation tissue on the internal side of the wound area.
• Multiple incisions were made on the auricular cartilage to relieve the curling and help regain the ear’s normal shape.

Additional Treatment

• Post the initial treatment, a skin graft was applied on the wound to expedite the healing process.
• To immobilize and maintain the final shape of the ear post-surgery, a thermoplastic material was contoured to fit the inner surface of the ear.

Post-surgery Observation

• The graft completely healed 30 days after the surgery, and the horse’s ear attained a normal conformation.
• The procedure was successful with pleasing aesthetic results and could be applied to similar cases of ear deformity in horses secondary to tissue scarring.

Conclusion

• The research indicates that ear deformities due to scar tissue formation in horses can be effectively treated using an adapted surgical procedure and suitable materials.
• The successful outcome suggests that this technique can achieve good cosmetic results in horses suffering from similar conditions.