2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

All animals diagnosed with frontal sinusitis were bulls. Breeds represented were crossbred (15), Brahman (1), Brangus (1), and Dexter (1). Seventeen (94%) were rodeo bulls. Median age at presentation was 4.5 years (mean 4.7 years). Duration of clinical signs ranged from 3 days to 1 year (mean 61 days, median 22.5 days). History included horn tipping in 56% (10/18). Clinical findings included nasal discharge (44%), dullness on percussion of the affected sinus (44%), abnormal head position (39%), palpable warmth of the horn on the affected side (33%), drainage from the affected horn (28%), and distortion of the frontal bone (11%; 2/18). Temperature was within normal range in 59% of bulls (10/17; range, 99.3-103.5ᵒF). Hyperproteinemia (6/7), hyperglobulinemia (6/6), and hyperfibrinogenemia (4/6) were the most consistent abnormal clinicopathologic findings at presentation. Diagnostic imaging included skull radiographs (13) and CT (1). Bacterial culture of infected tissue or exudate was performed in 3, and revealed Trueperella pyogenes (2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (1). Unilateral frontal sinusitis was diagnosed in all animals, and the left frontal sinus was affected in 61% of bulls (11/18). Treatment included trephination (8/18), horn removal (13/18), sinus lavage (15/18), antimicrobials (17/18), NSAIDs (13/18), sodium iodide (6), locally applied antimicrobial-impregnated plaster of Paris beads (2), vacuum-assisted closure (1), and medical-grade maggots (1). Sinusotomy sites were protected via packing with cotton or gauze (11) and maintained under a sterile bandage (8). Seventeen (94%) bulls were discharged from the hospital following diagnosis and treatment. Long-term follow-up (≥1 year) was available for 13 bulls (72%), all of which made a full recovery. Twelve of these were rodeo bulls; of these, 8 were reported to make a full recovery and perform well, 3 (25%) made a full recovery but did not perform well again, and 1 developed an abscess of the right papillary muscle and died 2 years later.