Thoracic spine stab injury with pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachiasis

Abstract

Trauma to skull base or sinus is the most common cause of pneumocephalus. There are only few published reports of traumatic pneumocephalus secondary to penetrating injury of upper spine, epidural anaesthesia and lumber puncture. Till date only one case of pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachiasis after thoracic spine stab injury is reported in available English literature that too associated without any neurological deficit. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachiasis after thoracic spine stab injury with asymmetrical, incomplete spinal cord injury leading to neurological deficit in the patient. The management protocol of such injuries needs to be individualised for better outcome.

Keywords

• stab injury
• thoracic spine
• pneumocephalus
• pneumorrhachiasis
• spinal injury