Use of intraoperative ultrasound aiding in extraction of migrated and embedded porcupine quills in a dog

A dog presented for porcupine quills; the client had removed the majority of quills themselves, but due to recurring quills and progressive swelling of the left thoracic limb, referral was recommended. Following preoperative ultrasonography to identify the location of remaining quill fragments, surgical exploration was performed. Approximate quill location was determined with preoperative ultrasound, but quill extraction with solely blunt dissection proved to be challenging. Intraoperative ultrasonography was then utilised to rapidly and successfully identify the remaining fragments and guided the surgeons in complete quill removal. Intraoperative ultrasound hastened the removal of fractured and embedded quills. This case highlights how intraoperative ultrasonography aided in efficiently identifying the location and orientation of embedded quills and thereby guided their surgical removal. It also highlights how imperative early medical intervention for porcupine quills is, in order to avoid disastrous complications.