Erectile Ear Dysfunction

Introduction

• he ear is made of a series of cartilages
• the position of the ear flap is largely controlled by muscles that attach onto the cartilages of the ear
• trauma (pulling of the ear) when a dog is a pup (or even when it is mature) may cause disruption of the muscles of the ear and cause the ear flap to flop over

Signalment

• the problem is only noted in dogs that normally have erect ears
• it can be seen in young dogs

Signs

• inability of the ear flap to assume an erect position

Treatment

• the scutiform cartilage is examined at the time of surgery for damage
• if the scutiform cartilage is torn from the pinnal cartilage it is reattached with nonabsorbable sutures
• care is taken during the surgery to prevent damage to the muscles that control ear movement
• a graft (collagen called laminated BIOSIS) is sutured to the cartilage of the ear flap (typically the scutiform) and to the occipital crest (bony projection of the skull)

Prognosis

• good prognosis with surgery
• the ear will permanently assume an erect position and likely will not lay flat even if the dog tries to do this
• the ear typically can still rotate forward and backward, thus hearing ability is improved with surgery

Complications

• infection
• seroma formation
• recurrence of erectile ear dysfunction necessitating another surgery

dikutip dari : http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com

diposting oleh :

Novan Andrian. S., Kh