title: Abscess of the cervical spine secondary to injection site infection in a heifer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abscesses in the neck region can result from infection associated with injection of drugs into the neck muscles. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of osteomyelitis of the cervical vertebra and spinal cord compression secondary to an abscess in the neck. This case report describes the findings in a 9.5-month-old heifer with an abscess of the cervical spine secondary to injection site infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The main clinical findings were swelling on the left side of the neck, proprioceptive deficits in all limbs and generalised ataxia. The ultrasonographic examination of the swelling showed an abscess. Radiographs showed a well-defined lytic lesion in 5th cervical vertebra (C5). Postmortem examination revealed an intramuscular encapsulated abscess on the left side of the neck at the level of C5. The abscess had invaded the vertebral canal and caused marked compression of the spinal cord.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injection technique is critical for the prevention of problems such as those described in this report. Sterile hypodermic needles must be used, and the volume of drug per injection site limited to 10-15 ml in young cattle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. ubraun@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Ueli
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2573-687X
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerspach
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Karolin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bünter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilbe
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D009220:Myositis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Abscess; Cattle; Injection; Neck; Spinal cord; Vertebral column