Researchers Study THO Treatment Option

Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) can cause vestibular nerve damage and balance problems in affected horses.
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Vestibular nerve damage and its associated balance problems can be devastating for horses diagnosed with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO). And because of their large size, horses diagnosed with both THO and balance problems can become dangerous to themselves and those working with them. So, a team of researchers recently set out to investigate the success rates of one THO treatment option and its ability to help affected horses’ balance return to normal.

Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is a condition that affects the temporohyoid joint that attaches the hyoid apparatus (a set of bones that hold the larynx, or “voice box,” in place) with the base of the skull. Clinical signs vary but are most commonly associated with vestibular and facial nerves. The vestibular nerves impact head carriage and balance, while the facial nerves impact eye, ear, and muzzle movement.

“This disease is characterized by bony growth at the joint, which can arise as a result of a degenerative condition (arthritis) or an extension of a middle ear infection,” explained Shem Oliver, DVM, Dipl. ACVS (LA), an associate veterinarian and staff surgeon at Performance Equine Associates, in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

This bony growth can lead to fusion of the joint. Further, tongue movement through swallowing, chewing, or vocalization causes fractures or inflammation in the joint. The inflammation causes issues with the nerves that exit the base of the skull near the joint, specifically the aforementioned facial and vestibular nerves. “The disease can be so severe and progress so quickly that the horse may not be able to stand on its own,” Oliver said

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Written by:

Katie Navarra has worked as a freelance writer since 2001. A lifelong horse lover, she owns and enjoys competing a dun Quarter Horse mare.

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