Diagnosis and treatment of an oral, migrating foreign body penetrating the spinal cord in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Background

The diagnosis and surgical treatment of migrating foreign bodies in the central nervous system has previously been reported in dogs and cats. A clinical presentation of this disease process in a rabbit has not been previously described in the veterinary literature.

Case description

A 1.5-year-old, male castrated, mixed breed rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented for hyporexia, lethargy, and reluctance to move. Survey radiographs revealed a linear, metal opaque structure extending from the caudal oral cavity, through the spinal canal, to the caudodorsal soft tissues of cervical vertebra 1 (C1). The top differential, due to the shape and size of the object, was a sewing needle, which was supported using computed tomography. Fluoroscopy was used to triangulate the location of the metal object. Once located, it was extracted through a 2 cm dorsolateral incision near C1, and confirmed to be a standard sewing needle. Four hours after recovery from anesthesia, the rabbit was semi-comatose. The modified Glasgow coma scale score (MGCS; 12/18), mentation, and physical examination parameters prompted administration of mannitol, and mentation and MGCS (14/18) subsequently improved. The rabbit was discharged 3 days later with bright and alert mentation, appropriate ambulatory abilities, and minor neurologic abnormalities.

Conclusions and case relevance

This is the first documented case of successful diagnosis, surgical removal, and medical treatment of an ingested foreign metal object penetrating the spinal cord in a pet rabbit. It is also the first documented report of mannitol use in a non-anesthetized pet rabbit whose traumatic central nervous system injury was not experimentally induced.