title: Traumatic pneumorrachis after isolated closed head injuries: An up-to-date review.
abstract: Pneumorrachis (PR) is characterized by the presence of air within the spinal canal. It can be classified descriptively into internal or intradural and external or epidural. The causes of PR can be divided as iatrogenic, nontraumatic and traumatic. In the present study, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all previous cases of PR after an isolate head injury. Two additional cases were also reported. We concluded, that PR after isolated head injuries is a rare but likely an underdiagnosed entity. It is a marker of severe injury and the majority of such patients have a poor outcome. Although, PR is usually asymptomatic and reabsorbs spontaneously, prompt recognition and management of the underlying cause is essential. Therefore, clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for serious underlying injury in cases where initial radiological imaging reveals intraspinal air.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Red Cross Hospital, 1 Athanasaki St., 11526 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: georgehadji@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Georgios F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hadjigeorgiou
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 E68th St., New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Ranjodh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Red Cross Hospital, 1 Athanasaki St., 11526 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stefanopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tzanio General Hospital, 1 Afentouli & Zanni St., 18536 Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: Adamantios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petsanas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Red Cross Hospital, 1 Athanasaki St., 11526 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Fivos G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Hadjigeorgiou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, Biopolis, Mezourlo Hill, Larissa 41100, Greece.
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fountas
mesh_terms: D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D063205:Pneumorrhachis / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Head injury; Intraspinal air; Pneumocephalus; Pneumorrhachis