Severe auricular skin necrosis as potential postanaesthetic complication in a horse undergoing general anaesthesia...

A Trotter mare (aged 5 years 8 months) presented with severe thoracic limb lameness 2 years after screw fixation of a third carpal bone fracture. Septic arthritis of the intermediate carpal joint necessitated three anaesthetics: two arthroscopic lavages in dorsal recumbency, followed by a computed tomography-guided screw explantation with curettage of an infected, sclerotic third carpal bone in right lateral recumbency. For each anaesthetic, maintenance was with isoflurane carried in oxygen and air, and a medetomidine constant rate infusion. Twelve days after the third anaesthetic, the horse had severe skin necrosis of the right pinna, which fully healed over the course of 6 weeks. This report describes a potential perianaesthetic complication, most likely caused by incorrect head positioning during anaesthesia leading to ischaemic tissue damage. Though a definitive cause could not be established, this report serves to highlight, and raise awareness of, this postanaesthetic morbidity.