Doctors at Oregon State University Veterinary Hospital have performed the world’s first operation to completely remove the ear canal from a pig. About reported University representatives to the phys.org portal.
The pig’s name is Ellie, now feeling well and in rehab. Ellie needed surgery as she had chronic ear infections. She was on antibiotics for several months, but that didn’t help her. The animal developed otosclerosis. This is a disease associated with the pathological growth of bone as a result of a violation of its metabolism. The process takes place in the middle ear and can lead to significant impairment and even hearing loss.
Usually this operation is performed only on dogs. In pigs, the external auditory canals are mostly located in the bony colon, making access difficult for surgeons. The scientists first 3D-printed the skull from the CT scan, which helped the team plan how to perform the surgery.
“Everything went as well as it could. It was a really great operation. Ellie finally deserves to live a healthy life. The pig’s ear apparatus is human-like, so we consulted an otolaryngologist for a successful operation. Scientists believe that this experience should be applied more widely. we believe,” he said.
The team hopes to write a scientific paper on the operation in the future.