Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with sudden balance issues after a head injury - what to know
By Blythe, L L et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1984·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vestibular syndrome associated with temporohyoid joint fusion and temporal bone fracture in three horses.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three horses were found to have sudden problems with balance and facial nerve function due to a stress fracture in a part of their skull called the temporal bone. This fracture happened because of long-term inflammation in the area, along with a fusion of the joint connecting two bones in the skull. Additionally, one horse had an infection in the brain and its surrounding membranes, which made things more complicated. After treatment, two of the horses showed improvement in their symptoms, but they still had some ongoing balance issues.
Abstract
Acute onset of vestibulocochlear and facial nerve dysfunction due to a stress fracture of the petrous part of the temporal bone was diagnosed in 3 horses. The fracture was secondary to chronic inflammatory changes in the petrous part of the temporal bone and the proximal stylohyoid bone, with fusion of the temporohyoid joint. Bacterial meningoencephalitis was a complicating factor. Treatment resulted in reduction of severity of clinical signs in 2 of the 3 cases, but residual compensated vestibular deficits persisted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6333418/