Headshaking in 5 Horses After Paranasal Sinus Surgery

• Published in: Veterinary surgery Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 678 - 684
• Main Authors: Gilsenan, William F, Getman, Liberty M, Parente, Eric J, Johnson, Amy L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Harcourt Health Sciences 01.08.2014; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: analgesics; Animals; Female; Horse Diseases - surgery; Horses; Male; Neuritis - physiopathology; Neuritis - veterinary; nose; Paranasal Sinus Diseases - surgery; Paranasal Sinus Diseases - veterinary; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Postoperative Complications - veterinary; Retrospective Studies; Sinuses; Stereotypic Movement Disorder; surgery; Surgical outcomes; Trigeminal Nerve; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 0161-3499; 1532-950X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12147.x

OBJECTIVE: To report headshaking and presumptive trigeminal neuritis as a potential complication after paranasal sinus surgery in horses. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Horses (n = 5) that developed headshaking within 45 days of paranasal sinus surgery. METHODS: Medical records (2007–2010) of horses that had been evaluated for headshaking after paranasal sinus surgery were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 5 horses that developed headshaking within 45 days of paranasal sinus surgery, resolution occurred after treatment in 2 horses. One horse was euthanatized because clinical signs associated with headshaking could not be controlled. Headshaking persisted in the other 2 horses but was either adequately controlled with analgesics or was considered infrequent and transient enough to not warrant therapeutic intervention. Only 2 of 5 horses returned to full work after development of headshaking. CONCLUSIONS: Headshaking because of presumptive trigeminal neuritis is a possible career‐ending or fatal complication of paranasal sinus surgery in horses.