title: Surgical removal of a microchip from a puppy's spinal canal.
abstract: A 1.6 kg, six-week-old Tibetan Terrier was admitted with a 12-hours history of acute onset of progressive tetraparesis following insertion of a microchip to the dorsal cervical region. Neurological examination indicated a lesion to the Ce(1) to Ce(5) spinal cord segments. Radiographic examination confirmed the intra-spinal location of a microchip foreign body at the level of the second cervical vertebra. Microchip removal was achieved following dorsal hemi-laminectomy; significant intra-operative haemorrhage was encountered. The puppy was ambulatory at day seven. Follow-up telephone interview 18 months postoperatively confirmed that the patient had made a good recovery although it had a mild residual right- sided torticollis.
authors.affiliation: Fitzpatrick Referrals, Halfway Lane, Eashing, Surrey GU7 2QQ, UK.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000823:Animal Identification Systems / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D004581:Electronics; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome