title: Pneumorrhachis Secondary to a Sacral Decubitus Ulcer.
abstract: An elderly woman with a chronic decubitus sacral ulcer presented to the emergency department with sepsis. A computed tomography of her abdomen showed diffuse gas extending throughout the thoracolumbar spinal canal. Pneumorrhachis is a rare radiographic finding defined as gas within the spinal canal. There are many causes of pneumorrhachis ranging from trauma to infection. In this case the pneumorrhachis was caused by direct spread of gas-forming organisms from vertebral osteomyelitis. Emergency physicians should know about the implication of gas in the spinal canal in the setting of sepsis.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Siamak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moayedi
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babin
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D063205:Pneumorrhachis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents