title: Pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after spinal surgery: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Trauma is a common cause of pneumocephalus, or air in the cranial cavity, and of pneumorrhachis, or the presence of intraspinal air. After spinal surgery, occurrence of pneumocephalus, especially with pneumorrhachis, is extremely rare. We report the case of a patient who developed pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis after lumbar disc surgery and pedicle screw fixation. There was no cerebrospinal fluid leakage during surgery. On postoperative day 1, the patient complained of headache, nausea, and dizziness. Brain and lumbar computed tomography scans revealed pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis. With conservative treatment, the patient's complaints resolved within 10 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Ergun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karavelioglu
authors.forename: Olcay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Eser
authors.forename: Alpay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haktanir
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001510:Bed Rest; D001863:Bone Screws; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017586:Diskectomy; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D063205:Pneumorrhachis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics