title: [Subarachnoid pleural fistula and subsequent pneumocephalus as complication of vertebral body replacement of the thoracic spine].
abstract: A pneumocephalus caused by a subarachnoid pleural fistula following spinal surgery using an anterior approach is a rare complication, especially in vertebral body replacement. We report the case of a 66-year-old male suffering from metastatic prostatic cancer of the thoracic spine who underwent replacement of a vertebral body using a transthoracic approach. A pneumocephalus occurred 4 weeks postoperatively resulting in delirium.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Orthopädische Chirurgie, Diakoniekrankenhaus Rotenburg (Wümme), Rotenburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kolenda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vestring
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulte
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*