Cerebrospinal fluid leakage and pneumocephalus secondary  to spine stab wounds.
Cerebro-spinal fluid leakage from a spinal stab wound is rare, and usually not a life-threatening injury. Pneumocephalus, a possible rare complication of traumatic cerebro-spinal fluid leakage, can potentially lead to intracranial hemorrhage and death. We describe two cases of spinal stab wounds complicated by cerebro-spinal fluid leakage, one of them developing into severe pneumocephalus. Both patients recovered completely with the following treatment protocol: (a) trendelenburg positioning of the patient, (b) insertion of a continuous-drainage cerebro-spinal fluid catheter into the lumbar thecal sac, (c) primary suture of the leaking skin wound, (d) IV antibiotic therapy.
Rahamimov
Nimrod
N
Western Galilee Hospital, Naharia, Israel. nimrod.rahamimov@naharia.health.gov.il
Mulla
Hani
H
Freiman
Shay
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D018475:Head-Down Tilt; D006261:Headache / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013115:Spinal Canal; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications*