Successful treatment of cervical spinal epidural empyema secondary to grass awn migration in a cat

Spinal epidural empyema (SEE) represents a severe pyogenic infection of the epidural space. Clinical signs of the disease are non-specific - increased body temperature, intense neck pain, neurological signs of a transverse myelopathy and can lead to severe and permanent neurological deficits. This report describes the diagnosis and successful surgical treatment of cervical SEE secondary to grass awn migration in a cat. Although it is uncommon, this disease should be suspected in cats with progressive myelopathy. Early diagnosis and emergency surgery combined with antibiotic therapy are required to allow a complete recovery. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of ESFM and AAFP.