Traumatic pneumomyelogram. Implications for the anaesthetist

Lumbar Pneumorrhachis Associated With Basilar Skull Fractures

Lumbar pneumorrhachis following head injury is rare and commonly asymptomatic but can be indicative of skull fracture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, which may warrant intervention. A PubMed review of the literature was performed using a keyword search to identify cases examining lumbar pneumorrhachis following head injury. Our case series included two patients who had lumbar pneumorrhachis between September 2019 and May 2020 at our center. The literature review summarizes 16 patients from 14 prior reports of pneumorrhachis. In our two-patient case series, neither patient required direct intervention for either pneumorrhachis or CSF leak. Pneumorrhachis is rare following an isolated head injury and is associated with basilar skull fractures and CSF leak. Pneumorrhachis should alert clinicians to the possibility of a CSF leak, which may require intervention.

Traumatic pneumorrachis after isolated closed head injuries: An up-to-date review

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.

Traumatic pneumorrhachis

Pneumorrhachis or intraspinal air is an increasingly encountered phenomenon in the management of severe trauma. The case of a 23-year-old soldier, who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, is presented and the subsequent discussion illustrates that while often benign this phenomenon may indicate serious occult injury.

Traumatic pneumorrhachis: etiology, pathomechanism, diagnosis, and treatment

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Traumatic pneumorrhachis (PR) is a rare entity, consisting of air within the spinal canal. It can be classified as epidural or subarachnoid, identifying the anatomical space where the air is located, and is associated with different etiologies, pathology, and treatments.

PURPOSE

To conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature focused on the etiology, pathomechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of PR, and to report a case of an asymptomatic epidural type.

STUDY DESIGN

International medical literature has been reviewed systematically for the term "traumatic pneumorrhachis" and appropriate related subject headings, such as traumatic intraspinal air, traumatic intraspinal pneumocele, traumatic spinal pneumatosis, traumatic spinal emphysema, traumatic aerorachia, traumatic pneumosaccus, and traumatic air myelogram. All cases that were identified were evaluated concerning their etiology, pathomechanism, and possible complications.

SAMPLES

Studies that included one of the aforementioned terms in their titles.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed to identify, evaluate, and summarize the literature related to the term "traumatic pneumorrhachis" and related headings. Furthermore, we report a rare case of an asymptomatic epidural PR extending to the cervical and thoracic spinal canal. We present the current data regarding the etiology, pathomechanism, diagnosis, and treatment modalities of patients with PR.

RESULTS

The literature review included 37 related articles that reported 44 cases of traumatic PR. Only isolated case reports and series of no more than three cases were found. In 21 cases, the air was located in the epidural space, and in 23 cases, it was in the subarachnoid space. Most of the cases were localized to a specific spinal region. However, eight cases extending to more than one spinal region have been reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Traumatic PR is an asymptomatic rare clinical entity and often is underdiagnosed. It usually resolves by itself without specific treatment. We stress the significance of this information to trauma specialists, so that they may better differentiate between epidural and subarachnoid PR. This is of great significance because subarachnoid PR is a marker of severe injury. The management of traumatic PR has to be individualized and frequently requires multidisciplinary treatment, involving head, chest, and/or abdomen intervention.

Pneumorachis of the cervical spine with associated pneumocephalus and subcutaneous emphysema

Pneumorachis, the presence of free intraspinal air, is an exceptional radiological finding. We present a case that sustained injury following an assault and was diagnosed to have diffuse pneumocephalus, pneumorachis and extensive surgical emphysema of the head and neck region secondary to the fracture of the cribriform plate of ethmoid bone. To the best of our knowledge pneumorachis due to fracture of the cribriform plate of ethmoid bone has not been reported before, in the English language literature.

Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of pneumorrhachis

Pneumorrhachis (PR), the presence of intraspinal air, is an exceptional but eminent radiographic finding, accompanied by different aetiologies and possible pathways of air entry into the spinal canal. By reviewing the literature and analysing a personal case of traumatic cervical PR after head injury, we present current data regarding the pathoanatomy, clinical and radiological presentation, diagnosis and differential diagnosis and treatment modalities of patients with PR and associated pathologies to highlight this uncommon phenomenon and outline aetiology-based guidelines for the practical management of PR. Air within the spinal canal can be divided into primary and secondary PR, descriptively classified into extra- or intradural PR and aetiologically subsumed into iatrogenic, traumatic and nontraumatic PR. Intraspinal air is usually found isolated not only in the cervical, thoracic and, less frequently, the lumbosacral regions but can also be located in the entire spinal canal. PR is almost exceptional associated with further air distributions in the body. The pathogenesis and aetiologies of PR are multifold and can be a diagnostic challenge. The diagnostic procedure should include spinal CT, the imaging tool of choice. PR has to be differentiated from free intraspinal gas collections and the coexistence of air and gas within the spinal canal has to be considered differential diagnostically. PR usually represents an asymptomatic epiphenomenon but can also be symptomatic by itself as well as by its underlying pathology. The latter, although often severe, might be concealed and has to be examined carefully to enable adequate patient treatment. The management of PR has to be individualized and frequently requires a multidisciplinary regime.

Traumatic Pneumorrhachis

Traumatic pneumorrhachis is extremely rare, and a review of the English literature has revealed only 31 reported cases. We review the cause and pathophysiology of this unique entity in trauma patients. We also discuss the significance of this entity to the trauma specialist, paying special attention to the differences between air in the subarachnoid space versus air in the epidural space.

[Cervical post-traumatic pneumomyelogram: do not ignore this entity]

We report the case of a post-traumatic pneumomyelogram in a 51-year-old woman. The pneumomyelogram associated with a skull base fracture was revealed by systematic total body scan. The discovery of a traumatic pneumomyelogram will be probably more frequently discovered with the largest use of modern helical CT-scan in traumatized patients. We discuss the etiologies and the implications for the anesthesiologist and the intensivist of this entity.