Headshaking in 5 horses after paranasal sinus surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To report headshaking and presumptive trigeminal neuritis as a potential complication after paranasal sinus surgery in horses.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
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.
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia.
William F
WF
Gilsenan
Liberty M
LM
Getman
Eric J
EJ
Parente
Amy L
AL
Johnson
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009443:Neuritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve