Pneumocephalus without pneumorrhachis after penetrating spinal trauma

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumocephalus refers to the presence of air inside the cranial cavity. The presence of air in the cranial cavity without spinal involvement following penetrating trauma to the spine is a very rare condition. In this report, we present a rare case of pneumocephalus after penetrating spine injury. Moreover, the pathophysiology of pneumocephalus, as well as its recommendations for diagnosis and treatment, will be explained.Case presentation.A 24-year-old man who was transferred to the hospital emergency room following a penetrating back trauma. Physical examination showed a horizontally oriented, deep, and sharp confined wound of about 4 to 5 cm in length, located at the thoracic midline area around the T5 vertebra.Brain CT scan revealed intracranial pneumocephallus. Conclusion: All patients with headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, dizziness, confusion and focal FNDs after spinal trauma and suspicion of CSF leakage should be managed as having the clinical diagnosis of a tension pneumocephalus.

Keywords

• Pneumocephalus
• Pneumorrhachis
• Trauma