# Evaluation of Lateral Ear Canal Ablation (LECA) as a Surgical Treatment Option for External Ear Canal Disease in Lop-Eared Pet Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

## TL;DR

This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of lateral ear canal ablation (LECA) in treating ear disease in lop-eared pet rabbits.

## Contribution

The study provides clinical evidence that LECA is a safe surgical treatment for soft tissue-filled ear canals in lop-eared rabbits.

## Key findings

- 25 lop-eared rabbits underwent LECA and all survived the surgery.
- 18 out of 25 rabbits did not develop new ear disease after surgery.
- Wound healing issues were observed in 7 rabbits, with one case not fully healing within 131 days.

## Abstract

External ear canal disease is a common disease problem in pet rabbits, especially in lop-eared pet rabbits. The authors describe the clinical findings, diagnostic workup, therapy, and outcome of pet rabbits with defined clinical signs. This is a retrospective clinical case study with data from two different veterinary clinics. Initially, all the pet rabbits underwent computed tomographic imaging (CT) for diagnostic workup. Furthermore, all the pet rabbits were treated surgically, performing a surgical enlargement of the ear canal (lateral ear canal ablation; LECA). A total of 25 pet rabbits underwent surgical procedures between 2015 and 2023 and all of them survived the operation. The mean follow-up period was 19 days. A total of 7/25 pet rabbits were evaluated with wound healing issues. In one case, complete wound healing was not reached within 131 days after surgery. A total of 18/25 pet rabbits did not develop any clinical signs specific to a new ear disease on subsequent examinations. Loss to follow-up was observed in 5/25 of the cases, and recurrent clinical signs were identified in 2/25 of the pet rabbits. In four cases, worsening was observed. CT post-operative images were obtained for 14/25 of the pet rabbits. The surgical method evaluated in this study, LECA, can be considered a safe surgical intervention to treat soft tissue-filled external ear canal diseases in pet rabbits, especially in lop-eared pet rabbits.

A soft tissue-filled external ear canal, sometimes also referred to as otitis externa in the veterinary literature, is a prevalent disease in pet rabbits, especially in lop-eared pet rabbits. The authors describe the clinical findings, diagnostic workup, therapy, and outcome of pet rabbits treated surgically for a lateral ear canal ablation (LECA). For the time period between 2015 and 2023, the medical records of two veterinary clinics were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 25 pet rabbits, diagnosed via computed tomography (CT) scans with a soft tissue-filled external ear canal and (if present) middle ear, were identified. All the pet rabbits were evaluated as lop-eared pet rabbits and all were treated surgically using the same surgical technique, LECA. In accordance with Richardson et al., we categorized the different ear filling levels by using the grading system that was established in 2019. The mean follow-up period was 19 days, and in one case complete wound healing was not reached within 131 days after surgery. A total of 7/25 of the pet rabbits were evaluated with wound healing issues. Of the cases, 18/25 did not develop any recurrent ear diseases. Loss to follow-up was observed in 5/25 of the cases and recurrent ear diseases were identified in 2/25 of the pet rabbits. Progression of the ear disease was detected in four cases. CT post-operative images were acquired for 14/25 of the pet rabbits. Based on this study, LECA can be considered a safe surgical method to treat soft tissue-filled external ear canals, especially in lop-eared pet rabbits. Nonetheless, thorough post-surgical management including wound control is critical for therapy success.