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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
1   University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Small Animal Surgery, Bern, Switzerland
,
U. Geissbühler
2   University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Radiology, Bern, Switzerland
,
P. Karli
3   University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Clinical Neurology, Bern, Switzerland
,
F. Forterre
1   University of Bern, Vetsuisse Faculty, Department of Small Animal Surgery, Bern, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 26 July 2013

Accepted: 19 February 2013

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

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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
 

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