Headshaking in 5 horses after paranasal sinus surgery.

This study investigates headshaking in horses, potentially caused by trigeminal neuritis, as a complication after undergoing paranasal sinus surgery.

Objective of the Research

• The research aimed to analyze the occurrence of headshaking in horses after paranasal sinus surgery and explore trigeminal neuritis as a possible reason for this phenomenon. This study’s conclusions may have serious implications, as potential complications from sinus surgery could be career-ending or even fatal to the horses affected.

Research Methodology

• The research design was a retrospective case series, meaning the authors thoroughly reviewed past instances and symptoms related to their hypothesis to draw their conclusions.
• The subjects of this study were horses that developed headshaking within 45 days after paranasal sinus surgery.
• The researchers reviewed medical records from 2007 to 2010 of horses that exhibited signs of headshaking after their sinus surgeries.

Findings of the Research

• Among the five horses that started headshaking within 45 days post-surgery, treatment led to the cessation of the symptom in two cases.
• In one case, the horse had to be euthanized as the clinical symptoms linked to headshaking could not be managed.
• For the remaining two horses, headshaking continued but was controlled adequately with analgesics or dismissed as infrequent and temporary, therefore not requiring therapeutic intervention.
• Only two of the five horses were able to return to full work after the onset of headshaking.

Conclusions of the Study

• The research concluded that headshaking, potentially due to presumptive trigeminal neuritis, could be a serious complication following paranasal sinus surgery in horses. This issue could prevent the horse from returning to work and, in the worst cases, might necessitate euthanasia.