TECA-LBO in Dogs and Cats

TECA-LBO in Dogs and Cats: When Ear Disease Demands a Permanent Solution

Chronic ear disease isn’t just an inconvenience it’s a daily source of pain for many pets. When months or even years of drops, antibiotics, and cleaning fail, surgery called Total Ear Canal Ablation with Lateral Bulla Osteotomy (TECA-LBO) offers a long-term cure and relief from suffering.

What Is TECA-LBO?
TECA-LBO stands for Total Ear Canal Ablation and Lateral Bulla Osteotomy. It’s the treatment of choice for:

• Chronic otitis externa and media that doesn’t respond to medical therapy
• Ear canal tumors, such as ceruminous gland adenocarcinoma
• Revision cases after failed lateral wall resection (LWR) or vertical canal ablation (VCA)

The procedure removes the entire diseased ear canal and cleans out the infected middle ear cavity (the bulla), eliminating the source of infection and pain once and for all.

When Is Surgery Necessary?

The decision for TECA-LBO is made when:
• The ear canal is calcified, narrowed, or chronically infected
• Infections keep recurring despite proper treatment
• The pet shows pain, head shaking, foul odor, or discharge
• There’s tumor growth or a deep abscess that cannot drain
• Imaging confirms middle ear involvement