CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF DIAMOND BURR

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF DIAMOND BURR DEBRIDEMENT IN PIGMENTARY KERATITIS IN THE DOG: 2 CASE REPORTS. L. Gradilone 1, S. Artiles 1, E. Mendoza 1, I. Morales-Fariña 1 Veterinary Hospital of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain 1. C/ Transmontaña s/n, Arucas, Gran Canaria. http: //www. centros. ulpgc. es/hcv/web 2/, www. fv. ulpgc. es, imorales@dpat. ulpgc. es Purpose: To evaluate a new technique for clinical treatment on pigmentary keratitis (PK) in dogs, using diamond burr superficial keratectomy (DBSK), medial canthoplasty and medical therapy. Additionally, assess postoperative complications and the control of the recurrence of the pigment. Methods: Two Pug, adult dogs with bilateral PK were included in this study. After having evaluated them by general and ophthalmic examination, patients were diagnosed with macropalpebral fissures and inferior medial eyelid entropion. The surgery was performed under general anesthesia according to the following procedure: correction of eyelids abnormalities by medial canthoplasty; debridement the corneal epithelium and superficial stroma using an handheld battery-operated diamond burr with a 3 mm grit tip. Tobramicyn was injected subconjunctival; the eyes stained with fluorescein to assess corneal damage. Postoperatively both dogs received topical atropine twice a day, artificial tears containing vitamin B 12 and tobramycin 3 times a day. Once corneal ulcers healed we started with Tacrolimus 0, 02% twice a day. Results: The corneal epithelium healed without complication. Currently there are few remains of pigment, particularly on the right eye of one of the patients where the pigment was not completely removed with DBSK because it was deeper than on the other eyes. After one month the pigment has not increased. Conclusions: DBSK associated with medial canthoplasty and immunosuppressive therapy is a promising method for the treatment PK, furthermore this is a more economic and less aggressive procedure than traditional surgical techniques. Further evaluation of the DBSK as a treatment for PK is indicated. To our knowledge this is the first report of this practice. Bibliography. 1 Bellhorn RW, Henkind P: Superficial pigmentary keratitis in the dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1966 Vol 149 pp. 173 -175. 2 Holmberg, DL. The cryosurgical treatment of pigmentary keratitis in dogs - an experimental and clinical-study. Veterinary surgery 15 (1): 1 -4 jan-feb 1986. 3 João Baptista Nigro Santiago Malta; Hunson Kaz Soong. Diamond burr superficial keratectomy in the treatment of visually-significant anterior corneal lesions. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2008; 71(3): 415 -8 4 Yi NY, Park SA, Jeong MB, et al: Medial canthoplasty for epiphora in dogs: a retrospective study of 23 cases. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2006 Vol 42 pp. 435 -9.