Atlantoaxial epidural abscess secondary to grass awn migration in a dog

E. Linon; U. Geissbühler; P. Karli; F. Forterre

doi:10.3415/VCOT-13-07-0095

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27(02): 155-158
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-13-07-0095

Case Report

Schattauer GmbH

Atlantoaxial epidural abscess secondary to grass awn migration in a dog

E. Linon

¹University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Small Animal Surgery, Bern, Switzerland

,

U. Geissbühler

²University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Radiology, Bern, Switzerland

,

P. Karli

³University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Clinical Neurology, Bern, Switzerland

,

F. Forterre

¹University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Small Animal Surgery, Bern, Switzerland

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

A two-year-old female Lucerne Hound was presented with a one-week history of signs of progressive neck pain, inappetence, apathy, and an elevated rectal temperature. Findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were consistent with a foreign body abscess in the epidural space at the level of the first and second cervical vertebrae. A leftsided dorso-lateral atlantoaxial approach was performed, revealing an epidural abscess containing a grass awn. The clinical signs resolved within three days of surgery and the dog made a full recovery. This case report shows that grass awns can migrate to the atlantoaxial region in dogs and MRI findings lead to a suspicion of caudo-cranial migration within the spinal canal.

Keywords

Epidural abscess - dog - foreign body - MRI - atlantoaxial

Full Text

References

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