Case Of the Month

Grass Awn in a 2-Year-Old MN Golden Retriever: Our Case Of the Month December 2019

The patient was presented for drainage tract between the 2nd and 3rd digits in the front left foot. Previous probing for the grass awn was unsuccessful; an ultrasound was performed to aid in the process of pinpointing the location of the grass awn and image the surrounding tissues.

DX

Grass awn granuloma/fistula

Outcome

An onsite ultrasound-guided surgical cut-down was performed and complete removal of the grass awn was successful. The patient has since recovered with no complications.

Image Interpretation

A front leg soft tissue lesion was imaged in this patient. Granulation bed was noted and a grass awn foreign body was evident, measuring approximately 1.5 cm. Regional thickened tissue was noted and minor fluid was noted within the cavity. The periosteum did not appear affected. Soft tissue cellulitis pattern was noted. Regional joints were unaffected. Culture of the granulation tissue would be ideal. Recheck sonogram if wound healing is not adequate over the next 1-2 weeks.