Facial nerve paralysis in 64 equids: Clinical variables, diagnosis, and outcome.
Abstract: Facial nerve paralysis (FNP) in equids is not well described in the veterinary literature. Objective: To investigate the causes of FNP and associations among clinical variables, diagnosis, and outcome. Methods: Sixty-four equids presenting with FNP between July 2000 and April 2019. Cases of postanesthetic FNP were excluded. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Variables were evaluated for associations with outcomes (diagnosis and case outcome) using logistic regression. Results: The most common cause of FNP was trauma (n = 20). Additional diagnoses included central nervous system (CNS) disease (n = 16), idiopathic (n = 12, 4 of which had adequate diagnostic investigation and were considered "true" idiopathic, and 8 of which were considered "not investigated" idiopathic), temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (n = 10), otitis media-interna (n = 3), lymphoma (n = 1), iatrogenic as a consequence of infiltration of local anesthetic (n = 1), and clostridial myositis (n = 1). Follow-up was available for 55 (86%) cases. Twenty-nine (53%) equids had full resolution of FNP, 14 (25%) were euthanized, 6 (11%) partially improved, and 6 (11%) were unchanged or worse. Conclusions: If FNP is the consequence of CNS disease, successful treatment of the primary disease likely leads to resolution of FNP. Most cases of FNP in equids are traumatic in origin. True idiopathic cases are uncommon.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2020-04-06 PubMed ID: 32249997PubMed Central: PMC7255662DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15767Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates causes of Facial Nerve Paralysis in horses and other equines and the associations of diagnosis and outcome. The most common cause was found to be trauma, with central nervous system disease also frequently identified.
Research Objective
- The primary goal of the study was to explore the major causes of Facial Nerve Paralysis (FNP) in equines, a condition that’s not exhaustively documented in veterinary medicine.
- The research was additionally aiming to determine any possible relationships among clinical features, diagnosis, and the outcome of afflicted equines.
Methods
- Medical records of sixty-four horses diagnosed with FNP from July 2000 to April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed for the study.
- The cases involving postanesthetic FNP were omitted from the investigation.
- Statistical analysis in the form of logistic regression was applied to evaluate whether certain variables were associated with the outcomes.
Results
- Trauma (in 20 out of 64 cases) was identified as the leading cause of FNP.
- Other significant causes were central nervous system (CNS) disease, idiopathic factors, temporohyoid osteoarthropathy, otitis media-interna, lymphoma, infiltration of local anesthetic, and clostridial myositis.
- Follow-up was available for 55 out of the 64 cases, revealing that more than half experienced full resolution of FNP, while others did not improve, partially improved or had to be euthanized.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that treatment of the primary disease, most frequently CNS disease, would likely result in alleviation of FNP symptoms.
- It was also found that most FNP cases in equines were caused by trauma, and that true idiopathic cases were rare.
Cite This Article
APA
Boorman S, Scherrer NM, Stefanovski D, Johnson AL.
(2020).
Facial nerve paralysis in 64 equids: Clinical variables, diagnosis, and outcome.
J Vet Intern Med, 34(3), 1308-1320.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15767 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, J. T. Vaughan Teaching Hospital, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Central Nervous System Diseases / complications
- Central Nervous System Diseases / therapy
- Central Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
- Equidae
- Facial Nerve Injuries / therapy
- Facial Nerve Injuries / veterinary
- Facial Paralysis / diagnosis
- Facial Paralysis / etiology
- Facial Paralysis / therapy
- Facial Paralysis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Recovery of Function
- Retrospective Studies
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- da Costa Kamura B, de Oliveira Ferreira LV, Chimenes ND, de Oliveira JPM, Rodriguez-Sanchez DN, de Carvalho M, Amorim RM. Cannabidiol-rich extract suppresses the activation of proinflammatory genes IL-1β and IL-6 in equine mesenchymal stem cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Vet Res Commun 2026 Feb 24;50(3).
- de Oliveira Ferreira LV, Maia L, de Andrade DGA, da Costa Kamura B, de Carvalho M, Amorim RM. Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on traumatic facial nerve paralysis in two horses. Vet Res Commun 2025 Feb 25;49(2):118.
- Kashani-Carver A, O'Halloran C, Scurrell E, Featherstone H, de Freitas FF, Lowe R. Equine conjunctival haemangiosarcoma: Clinical presentation, management, and outcome of seven cases in the United Kingdom. Open Vet J 2023 Oct;13(10):1366-1378.
- Ferreira LVO, Kamura BDC, Oliveira JPM, Chimenes ND, Carvalho M, Santos LAD, Dias-Melicio LA, Amorim RL, Amorim RM. In Vitro Transdifferentiation Potential of Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Schwann-Like Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2023 Jul;32(13-14):422-432.
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