title: Traumatic pneumorrhachis: 2 cases and review of the literature.
abstract: The presence of air in the spinal canal is known as pneumorrhachis (PNR), aerorachia, intraspinal pneumocele, pneumosaccus, pneumomyelogra, or intraspinal air. Pneumorrhachis may be iatrogenic, traumatic, and nontraumatic. We treated 2 patients who had posttraumatic PNR in the cervical spine region after stab injuries. Case 1 was a 31-year-old man who was stabbed in the C5 to C6 region. He had muscle weakness (3/5) and numbness on the right side of the body. Brain computed tomographic (CT) scan showed pneumocephalus, and cervical CT scan showed PNR at the C6 level. Treatment included observation, and symptoms and weakness improved within 7 days. Case 2 was a 40-year-old man who was stabbed in the C3 to C4 region. He had muscle weakness (1/5) and numbness on the left side of the body. Brain CT scan showed pneumocephalus, and cervical CT scan showed PNR at the C3 level. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage persisted, and he was treated with surgical repair of a dural laceration. Muscle strength improved. In summary, PNR is a rare condition that usually is treated nonoperatively. However, surgical treatment may be indicated for persistent neurologic symptoms or signs; the air detected in the spinal canal with radiographic imaging may be associated with an active cerebrospinal fluid leak and may cause spinal compression.
authors.affiliation: Selçuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: hasankara42@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: Selçuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.affiliation: Selçuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Degirmenci
authors.affiliation: Selçuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayir
authors.affiliation: Selçuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063205:Pneumorrhachis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery