title: Diffuse pneumocephalus associated with infratentorial and supratentorial hemorrhages as a complication of spinal surgery.
abstract: A 23-year-old woman was transferred to our department with loss of consciousness 6 h after undergoing rod placement for thoracolumbar scoliosis. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed diffuse pneumocephalus and infra- and supratentorial hemorrhages. The pedicular screw tracts were analyzed with computed tomography and misplacement of a screw was noticed. It was thought that inadvertent dural injury had occurred at the time of insertion. The patient was re-operated and the dural tear was repaired. To our knowledge, this is the first description of these uncommon complications in one patient after spine surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aksaz Naval Hospital, Mugla, Turkey. drersini@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kantarci
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: C Cinar
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Basekim
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kizilkaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed