Lumbar puncture as a cause of tension pneumocephalus, pneumorrachis, and sacral meningocele infection leading to death: An extremely rare case report

Abstract

Although it was first described over 100 years ago, lumbar puncture is still an important diagnostic tool for a variety of infectious and noninfectious neurologic conditions. With the widespread use of this common and relatively safe performed medical procedure, minor and major complications can occur even when standard infection control measures and good techniques are used, including post lumbar puncture headaches, infection, bleeding, cerebral herniation, radicular pain, and even pneumocephalus in extremely rare cases. We describe a previously unreported complication of lumbar puncture performed for the diagnosis of meningitis in a 33-year-old woman with no medical history causing pneumorrachis, tension pneumocephalus, and sacral meningocele infection leading to death. Lumbar puncture is a simple diagnostic procedure with few complications, but if the technique is incorrectly performed, or if it is accompanied by occult congenital malformations such as sacral anterior meningocele in our case, the consequences can be fatal.

Keywords

• Pneumocephalus
• Pneumorrachis
• Lumbar puncture
• Anterior sacral meningocele