Reversible tetraplegia in a dog caused by a transoral penetrating stick injury

Abstract

A 3‐year‐old, male German shepherd dog was referred because of acute tetraplegia following endoscopic removal of stick fragments from the oral cavity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extradural T2W‐ and T1W‐hypointense linear structure within the vertebral canal at the level from the C1 to mid‐C2 cervical vertebral body, causing pronounced dorsolateral spinal cord compression and spinal cord oedema extending to the caudal end of the C2 vertebra. A dorsal laminectomy was performed at the level of the C1–C2 vertebra. Three wooden fragments with lengths of up to 4 cm, which were located adjacent to the spinal cord, were removed from the vertebral canal. The dog was still tetraplegic after surgery. Postoperative care consisted of analgesics, antibiotics, bladder management, intensive neurorehabilitation and physical therapy. Recovery of ambulation was regained 3 weeks after surgery.