A 4-month-old cat was presented with acute
paraplegia after the referring veterinarian performed a
subcutaneous injection (
cefovecin and
dexamethasone) in the caudodorsal thoracic area, during which the cat suddenly became uncooperative. A complete neurological examination performed 1 day after the injection revealed
paraplegia without deep pain perception and reduced segmental spinal reflexes in the pelvic limbs. Findings were consistent with either an L4-S3
myelopathy or a T3-L3
myelopathy with subsequent spinal
shock. MRI showed swelling of the spinal cord from T1 to L1 with heterogeneous T2-weighted intramedullary hyperintensity and no contrast enhancement. A centrally located intraspinal signal void was visible in T2*-weighted images. These changes were compatible with a suspected traumatic
intraspinal injection. Despite intensive supportive care over 4 days, neurological status did not improve and the cat was euthanased. Gross pathology findings revealed severe intramedullary haemorrhage and myelomalacia in the T10-L1 spinal cord segments. Histopathology of the spinal cord after haematoxylin and
eosin staining revealed a severe intramedullary space-occupying haemorrhage with focal malacia. A trajectory-like, optically empty cavity containing some eosinophilic droplets at the edges was detected. Although no further evidence of
trauma was noted in the surrounding structures, the spinal cord changes were compatible with a perforating
trauma.
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