What is a TECA-BO?
The term TECA-BO is an abbreviation for Total Ear Canal Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy. This surgery involves the complete removal of the ear canal and tympanic bulla (middle ear), leaving only the pinna (ear flap) remaining. Typically, this surgery is performed by a specialist, though some veterinarians in general practice may also perform this surgery.
Why would my veterinarian recommend a TECA-BO?
A TECA-BO is primarily recommended in cases of chronic, end-stage otitis (ear infections) in which medical treatment is no longer helping the patient. Sometimes, this may be due to a bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotic treatment, and surgically removing the bacteria may be the most effective means of dealing with the infection. In many cases, longstanding infection and inflammation have led to so much scarring and mineralization of the ear canal that the ear canal has narrowed, and ear cleaning is no longer effective for removing accumulated debris. In either case, a TECA-BO allows the infected, abnormal ear tissue to be removed, reducing chronic pain and inflammation and giving the pet an improved quality of life.
"...TECA-BO allows the infected, abnormal ear tissue to be removed, reducing chronic pain and inflammation and giving the pet an improved quality of life."
A TECA-BO may also be recommended in dogs or cats who have neoplastic (cancerous) growths within the ear canal. If the mass is fully confined to the ear canal, a TECA-BO will allow the removal of the entire mass.
What does the TECA-BO surgery entail?
Pre-Operative Assessment
Your dog will first undergo a pre-operative assessment. During a physical exam, the veterinarian will assess the extent of your dog’s ear abnormalities and assess the function of those nerves that run adjacent to the ear canal. Pre-anesthetic blood tests will be used to evaluate your dog’s internal organ function before anesthesia. Finally, imaging will be performed to evaluate the ear canals and bullae (middle ear). Although X-rays can be used to image the skull and bullae, advanced imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI, will allow more effective visualization. This pre-operative assessment will assist the surgeons in planning your dog’s surgery.
Surgery
Your dog will be placed under general anesthesia for surgery. The surgeon will create a skin incision surrounding the ear, then carefully cut through the underlying tissues so that the ear canal can be removed as one intact cylinder. The eardrum and the bones of the middle ear will also be removed and will expose the tympanic bulla. Infected material will be removed from the bulla and submitted to a laboratory for bacterial culture. This culture will identify the infection-causing bacteria, as well as the most effective antibiotics for treatment. The bone lining the bulla will be scraped clean and the incision will be closed. An external drain may be left in place at the surgical site so that any remaining fluid/material can exit the incision.
What post-operative care will be required after TECA-BO surgery?
After surgery, your dog may be sent home with a drain still in place. There may also be bandages covering the surgical site. If this is the case, your veterinarian will guide you as to proper care and removal of these drains and bandages.
Your dog will also go home with pain medications and antibiotics. Antibiotics are typically continued for two to four weeks following surgery, depending on your dog’s overall health status and severity of the ear canal disease.
"...your dog will be required to wear an E-collar to prevent him from scratching the surgical site..."
As the incision is healing, your dog will be required to wear an E-collar (cone) to prevent him from scratching the surgical site, which could damage the incision and interfere with healing.
Are there complications associated with TECA-BO surgery?
The primary risks associated with TECA-BO surgery are associated with the veins and nerves that run in the vicinity of the ear canal. Damage to the blood supply in this area may cause a partial loss of blood supply to the pinna. If this occurs, tissue may begin to die along the edges of the ear flap and a second surgery may be required to trim away dead tissues to prevent infection. Damage to the facial nerve may result in paralysis of the affected side of the face. In most cases, this paralysis is temporary and will resolve without treatment. In some cases, however, this paralysis is permanent.
Many pet owners expect their dog’s hearing to be reduced after surgery due to the removal of the eardrum. This is a possibility but is not always the case. If the ear canal is so diseased by the time a surgery such as TECA-BO is considered, owners notice little change in their dog’s hearing after surgery.
Approximately 5-10% of patients will experience chronic drainage from the incision, indicating the presence of residual infection. This drainage may be noted months to years after the original surgery. Although the drainage will often resolve temporarily with antibiotic treatment, a second surgery may be required for complete resolution.
Overall, the prognosis for pets receiving a TECA-BO is very good. The pet is relieved of a source of chronic pain and inflammation, while the pet owner is relieved of the odor and daily cleaning/medication associated with chronic ear infections.
