Corticoterapia intralesional no tratamento de otohematoma em cães / Treating otohematomas in dogs with intra-lesional corticotherapy

ABSTRACT

Background: Otohematoma is common in dogs and is characterized by blood accumulation between the skin and cartilageof the outer ear. While the etiology is related to trauma, most cases have a predisposing condition. Treatment must drainthe hematoma and maintain appropriate skin apposition to the ear cartilage. Treatment can be surgical, but there are alsoconservative options such as puncture drainage, followed by intralesional injection of glucocorticoids. This alternativemethod is less invasive than surgery, with an equivalent success rate. This study aimed to describe intralesional injectionof corticosteroids for the treatment of dogs with otohematoma at a veterinary clinic.Materials, Methods & Results: Otohematoma was diagnosed and treated in 23 dogs (14 males and 9 females, weighing9.6 ± 2.7 kg) at a reference private veterinary clinic. The dogs were chemically restrained, and their ears were cleanedwith chlorhexidine. The lower face of each ear with otohematoma was then punctured with a needle coupled to a syringeto drain the liquid. Following drainage, the equipment was removed and the collected liquid volume was measured. A0.5 mg/kg dose of methylprednisolone acetate was prepared and diluted in saline (0.9% NaCl) to a volume equivalent to1/10 of the previously drained content volume from the otohematoma. The prepared solution was then injected into thedrained ear. Additionally, each patient was treated for the original cause of the otohematoma, according to conventionalprotocols. Eight animals (34.78%) had bilateral otohematoma and 15 (65.22%) presented with unilateral lesions. Leukocytosis was observed in most patients. Other laboratory alterations present in the studied dogs were thrombocytopenia,leukopenia, and anemia. Twenty (86.96%) patients presented with otitis externa. All patients were reassessed one weekafter the initial treatment, and 19 (82.60%) fully recovered. The remaining...