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

Abstract

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 2cm 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.