Pneumorrhachis following Chest Injury: A Rare Entity (original) (raw)
Related papers
Closed Thoracic Trauma as an Exceptional Cause of Pneumorrhachis: A Case Report
Curēus, 2024
Pneumorrhachis, a rare clinical entity, refers to the presence of air in the spinal canal. Air can enter the spinal canal through various pathways, including the lungs and mediastinum (the space between the lungs), or directly from external sources due to trauma or infection. In rare cases, pneumorrhachis may result from repeated secondary Valsalva maneuvers, which is a complication of large-area pneumothorax. In this case report, we discuss a 36-year-old male patient who was involved in a high-intensity road accident. The injury assessment revealed significant findings including a large left pneumothorax, a right pneumothorax, multiple rib fractures, and the presence of pneumorrhachis. The entry of air into the spinal canal originated from the pleural space, likely through injuries to the parietal pleura. Rarely reported, closed thoracic trauma is an exceptional cause of pneumorrhachis. This unique mechanism of injury has been described in a limited number of publications addressing traumatic pneumorrhachis. The identification of pneumorrhachis in a traumatized patient should prompt further investigation to explore other potential injuries that may elucidate the formation of this intraspinal gas collection.
Postraumatic pneumorrhachis: report of three cases and classification proposal
Romanian Neurosurgery, 2017
The Pneumorrhachis is the presence of air at the level of the spinal canal. It can have several causes among which are: traumatic, iatrogenic among others. Clinical Cases: We present three cases of male patients handled by our neurosurgery service with traumatic pneumorrhachis patients, which were managed in a conservative manner, with control images. Conclusions: pneumorrhachis has traditionally been classified as internal if air is present in the subdural or subarachnoid space and external if the air is located at the epidural level. We propose a classification in degrees (Moscote-Agrawal-Padilla) which is more practical from the clinical and radiological point of view.
Traumatic pneumorrhachis: 2 cases and review of the literature
The American journal of emergency medicine, 2014
The presence of air in the spinal canal is known as pneumorrhachis (PNR), aerorachia, intraspinal pneumocele, pneumosaccus, pneumomyelogra, or intraspinal air. Pneumorrhachis may be iatrogenic, traumatic, and nontraumatic. We treated 2 patients who had posttraumatic PNR in the cervical spine region after stab injuries. Case 1 was a 31-year-old man who was stabbed in the C5 to C6 region. He had muscle weakness (3/5) and numbness on the right side of the body. Brain computed tomographic (CT) scan showed pneumocephalus, and cervical CT scan showed PNR at the C6 level. Treatment included observation, and symptoms and weakness improved within 7 days. Case 2 was a 40-year-old man who was stabbed in the C3 to C4 region. He had muscle weakness (1/5) and numbness on the left side of the body. Brain CT scan showed pneumocephalus, and cervical CT scan showed PNR at the C3 level. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage persisted, and he was treated with surgical repair of a dural laceration. Muscle streng...
Rapid disappearance of pneumorrhachis after chest tube placement
Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2019
We present a rare case of traumatic pneumorrhachis with the combination of hemothorax which resolved rapidly after insertion of a chest tube. Case presentation: A 55 year old male was admitted to our emergency department after falling from a ladder. His general condition was well, GCS was 15 with no motor deficits. On his spinal CT a fracture on multiple ribs leading to right sided hemothorax was observed with air in the T6-T8 spinal canal. A chest tube was placed and as he did not have any neurological deficits surgical intervention to the pneumorrhachis was not considered. On the next day's a follow-up CT the air in the spinal canal was reduced and on the 5th day resolved completely. Conclusion: Traumatic pneumorrhachis is a rare phenomenon and is not fully understood how the air from the posterior mediastinal wall can spread to the epidural or subarachnoid space. One hypothesis for subarachnoid air is that the high pressure air from a pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum pushes in a one-valve mechanism through the fascial layers of the posterior mediastinum through the neural foramina into the spinal canal. In our case, after the insertion of the chest tube the air in the subarachnoid space resolved and the patient's tingling sensation on his legs disappeared. We believe that the negative pressure of the chest tube did a somehow reverse effect of the air flow back from the spinal canal into the chest tube which has not been reported in the literature before.
Thoracic Pneumorrhachis in Patient with Lumbar Fractures; a Case Report
SBMU publishing, 2014
Pneumorrhachis as a relatively rare condition may be an indication of substantial intra-spinal column injury. Here we report a 39-year-old man was admitted because of low back pain and dyspenea after locating between motor vehicle and wall three days before admission. On arrival, physical exams and vital signs were normal. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral pleural effusion, fracture of ribs number 8, 9 and 10 in lower left side of thorax, fracture of vertebra in L2-L4, and air bubbles in upper thoracic spinal canal.
Traumatic pneumorrhachis: etiology, pathomechanism, diagnosis, and treatment
The Spine Journal, 2011
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Traumatic pneumorrhachis (PR) is a rare entity, consisting of air within the spinal canal. It can be classified as epidural or subarachnoid, identifying the anatomical space where the air is located, and is associated with different etiologies, pathology, and treatments. PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature focused on the etiology, pathomechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of PR, and to report a case of an asymptomatic epidural type. STUDY DESIGN: International medical literature has been reviewed systematically for the term ''traumatic pneumorrhachis'' and appropriate related subject headings, such as traumatic intraspinal air, traumatic intraspinal pneumocele, traumatic spinal pneumatosis, traumatic spinal emphysema, traumatic aerorachia, traumatic pneumosaccus, and traumatic air myelogram. All cases that were identified were evaluated concerning their etiology, pathomechanism, and possible complications. SAMPLES: Studies that included one of the aforementioned terms in their titles. METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify, evaluate, and summarize the literature related to the term ''traumatic pneumorrhachis'' and related headings. Furthermore, we report a rare case of an asymptomatic epidural PR extending to the cervical and thoracic spinal canal. We present the current data regarding the etiology, pathomechanism, diagnosis, and treatment modalities of patients with PR. RESULTS: The literature review included 37 related articles that reported 44 cases of traumatic PR. Only isolated case reports and series of no more than three cases were found. In 21 cases, the air was located in the epidural space, and in 23 cases, it was in the subarachnoid space. Most of the cases were localized to a specific spinal region. However, eight cases extending to more than one spinal region have been reported. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic PR is an asymptomatic rare clinical entity and often is underdiagnosed. It usually resolves by itself without specific treatment. We stress the significance of this information to trauma specialists, so that they may better differentiate between epidural and subarachnoid PR. This is of great significance because subarachnoid PR is a marker of severe injury. The management of traumatic PR has to be individualized and frequently requires multidisciplinary treatment, involving head, chest, and/or abdomen intervention. Ó
PubMed, 2011
A 41-year-old man with injury of right half of the thorax, fractures of the left crural bones and paralysis of the right upper limb was admitted to our hospital. A CT examination at admission revealed bilateral pulmonary contusion and bilateral fluid- and pneumothorax. In addition pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumorrhachis at the cervicothoracic transition was demonstrated. Abnormal findings in the skull and brain were not revealed. The fifth day after admission repeated CT examination demonstrated extensive frontal pneumocephalus on the right, presence of air in several cisterns and in the right optic nerve sheaths (pneumoopticus). Right frontal craniotomy was performed, dura mater was incised and air was evacuated. Rapid regression of pneomocephalus was evident postoperatively. The tenth day after admission MRI of the cervical spine and brachial plexus was performed. At the level of the C7 and C8, nerve roots pneumomenigocele and a nerve retracting ball indicating the presence of a nerve root injury were discernible. This case demonstrated that severe thoracic blunt trauma leads to acute increase of intrathoracic pressure with concomitant fluid- and pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and pneumopericard. From the mediastinum air propagated subcutaneously. Disrupted cervical dural sheaths resulted in leakage of cerebrospinal fluid and entry of air from mediastinum to subdural and subarachnoid spinal and cranial space and to the subarachnoid space of the optic nerve.
European Journal of Radiology Extra, 2009
Pneumorrhachis (PR) is an under-diagnosed phenomenon delineating existence of intraspinal air. We report a case in which extradural PR developed along with pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, cervical, thoracic and abdominal wall subcutaneous emphysema after retroduodenal perforation following ERCP. ERCP was done to evaluate obstructive jaundice in a 62-year-old male following which patient developed abdominal pain and crepitus in the body wall. Computerized tomography scan revealed extradural pneumorrhachis of thoraco-abdominal spinal canal with presence of air in the body cavities. The patient remained however neurologically asymptomatic and recovered with conservative management over the next few days. We have also studied the available literature and presented a pathway of air dissection from the body cavities to the epidural space.