Spontaneous extradural pneumorrhachis causing cervical myelopathy.
BACKGROUND
Pneumorrhachis (intraspinal air) is usually asymptomatic. Therefore, most patients with pneumorrhachis usually are managed conservatively. Rarely, pneumorrhachis is symptomatic and associated with discomfort, pain, and neurological deficits.


OBJECTIVE
To present a 72-year-old man who presented with progressive weakness of the lower extremities with a large amount of intraspinal air that compressed the spinal cord.


METHODS
A case report


METHODS
Review of the medical record and radiographs.


RESULTS
A C7 total laminectomy was performed, and the patient fully recovered 1 month after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The possibility that neurological symptoms could be caused by non-traumatic intraspinal air should be considered.
Song
Kyung-Jin
KJ
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University School of Medicine, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
Lee
Kwang-Bok
KB
D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed