# Cervical Disc Extrusion with Dorsal Migration in a Pet Rabbit

## TL;DR

A rabbit with a rare spinal disc issue was successfully treated surgically, marking the first confirmed case in rabbits.

## Contribution

This is the first documented and histologically confirmed case of cervical disc extrusion in a rabbit.

## Key findings

- Computed tomography and MRI identified a cervical spinal cord compression at C6-C7 in a rabbit.
- Surgical decompression revealed degenerated and mineralized disc material confirmed via histology.
- This case represents the first histologically confirmed cervical disc extrusion in a rabbit.

## Abstract

An 8-year-old rabbit presented with an acute onset of difficulty walking in all limbs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dorsolateral cervical spinal cord compression at the level of the C6-C7 intervertebral disc. After medical treatment failure, the rabbit underwent surgical decompression of the spinal cord. The retrieved material histologically resembled degenerated and mineralized disc material. This is the first report of a cervical disc extrusion in a rabbit.

An 8-year-old rabbit presented with a 5-day history of acute difficulty in walking. Neurological examination revealed tetraparesis, proprioceptive deficits in both pelvic limbs and the right thoracic limb, decreased withdrawal reflex on the right thoracic limb and hyperreflexia in the pelvic limbs. A cervico-thoracic (C6-T2) localization was suspected. Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed, revealing a right dorsolateral extradural lesion at the C6-C7 intervertebral disc space. Additionally, meningeal and paravertebral contrast enhancement was observed on MRI, while periosteal reaction was evident at the right C6-C7 facet joint on CT. The findings were primarily consistent with spinal cord compression due to the presence of extruded disc material. Following conservative treatment failure, a right-sided C6-C7 hemilaminectomy was performed to remove the compression and sample the extradural material. Histological examination confirmed the presence of degenerated and partially mineralized disc material mixed with granulation tissue. This is the first reported case of cervical disc extrusion in a rabbit, confirmed by histological examination.