title: Air in the spinal canal associated with trauma.
abstract: Air in the spinal canal after trauma is uncommon. We report a case of a motor vehicle accident resulting in a thoracic fracture-dislocation. Air was discovered within the spinal canal on a computed tomography (CT) scan. This injury pattern proved to be a diagnostic dilemma because multiple etiologies existed. Pneumothorax, ruptured esophagus, facial sinus fractures, and herniated vertebral discs can result in this entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salcedo-Dovi
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cortes
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000293:injuries*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery