OTITIS-MEDIA AND INTERNA AND TEMPOROHYOID OSTEOARTHROPATHY

Otitis media/interna in the equine most commonly is a chronic, insidio us infection with the unique sequella of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy in some horses. Head shaking may be the only clinical sign of the ear ly stages of this disease. The arthritic condition often leads to fusi on of the temporohyoid joint with resultant stress fractures of the pe trous temporal bone. When this occurs, the horse presents as an acute neurologic case with clinical signs of vestibular and facial nerve dys function. Diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are discussed. Recogniti on of this syndrome is important because many of these horses can be t reated successfully and can return to normal function.