Anyone have experience with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy?
Posted by Tauna on 7/21/2012, 11:39 pm
My mare (10yo) has symptoms very consistent with this condition. We have an appointment with Steinbeck on Wednesday to have an xray and/or scoping done to (hopefully) get a diagnosis. The symptoms first started with occasional deep coughing and headshaking, to now asymmetry in her face, reduced eyelid reaction and droopy left ear. The symptoms are moderate now, but getting worse (comparing pictures and videos from before to now). This is the mare that was assaulted by a sick man in a pasture, and was snubbed tight to a tree with a harsh rope, about 2 years ago. It seems very possible that that incident damaged her hyoid bone and it's now calcifying. We've looked at pictures from before that incident to just after and don't see signs of this condition, in her movement or facial structure. And she certainly didn't have the behavioral difficulties we have now.
Have any of you had experience with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy? Did you have the surgery done, either partial or complete? Everything I've been reading says this is the way to go. But I'd like to hear from others before our appointment so I can make a decision quickly.
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Ive never even heard of it Tauna - keep us posted and good luck...
and you too Tauna. I have not heard of this but you might try crossposting on Chronicle of the Horse as there seems to be a huge cross section of equestrians over there that have dealt with even the rarest of maladies. Please keep us posted on her.
I would sent an email to Dr. Kerry Ridgway. He may have some suggestions. I've learned a lot about the hyoid apparatus from him. Also, ask Linda Cowles if you can post this on her Whole Horse yahoo group - Dr. Ridgway is a member there and will see your post. That may be the best way to get a response.
I hope things work out - what a horrible thing to have happen.
I just sent Linda a message. Good idea - I didn't think of Dr. Ridgway. I'd like to be more informed before our appointment. If this is what is happening, sounds like the prognosis is pretty good. It would be kind of a relief to have a physical reason and know my mare's personality didn't change for no reason.
I'll keep you all informed - thanks for the good wishes!
Santa Cruz Mountains, Ben Lomond http://ironfreehrs.com/
Re: Anyone have experience with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy?
Also, have you considered Lymes disease? There are so many different symptoms that the only way to really know would be to test your mare. Most people who suffer from Bellspalsy have found out they really have lymes, not everyone's symptoms are the same.
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Re: Anyone have experience with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy?
I had a mare who had this. She had a partial facial paralysis that came on quickly, from being mostly normal to being unable to blink one eye, drooping lip on that side, lop ear on that side - all in a few days. She was initially diagnosed (locally) as possibly having Bell's Palsy.
We were referred to UC Davis and went up there the very next morning. They did a full neurological workup, scoped her, did various tests to determine if it was West Nile or other neurological diseases, looked in her eyes and ears, and ultimately xrays confirmed temporohyoid osteoarthropathy.
I had the surgery done at Davis. The surgery was to remove a small piece of the hyoid bone, which lets the joint portion of the hyoid bone fuse with the other bones and the missing portion of the bone "acts as a joint" to let the tongue function normally. I was very happy with UC Davis, with the initial exam (conducted mostly by students with the vet assisting), with the expert exams (she was seen by their eye specialist), with the surgery and post-op care, and with the outcome. In the end she had the tinyiest bit of droop in her lip on that side, and the tinyiest bit of "lop" in the ear on that side. (The ear didn't come fully forward, it only came about 95% of the way to straight forward - I could see the difference but nobody else ever noticed.) The important thing - her eye was fine! I don't remember the name of the surgeon who did the surgery but the admitting vet was Dr. Madigan and I'm pretty sure he will remember the 18.2 hand Percheron with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy.
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