Turkish Neurosurgery
PNEUMORRHACHIS ASSOCIATED WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA, SUBCUTANEOUS EMPHYSEMA, AND PNEUMOMEDIASTINUM
Alper Karaoğlan1, Mehmet Alpay Çal1, Alpay Örki2, Bekir Muhsin Arpaözü3, Ahmet Çolak1
1Maltepe University School of Medicine, Neurosurgery, İstanbul,
2Maltepe University School of Medicine, Thoracic Surgery, İstanbul,
3Maltepe University School of Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, İstanbul,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.3018-10.1

Pneumorrhachis is defined as the presence of air in the epidural space or subarachnoid space. The air may migrate along fascial planes from the posterior mediastinum, through the neural foramina, and into the epidural space. Pneumorrhachis is rare, and even more so in the paediatric population. Pneumorrhachis in itself usually is asymptomatic, does not tend to migrate and reabsorbs spontaneously. The combination of pneumomediastinum with epidural pneumorrhachis without thoracic trauma has rarely been reported in the literature. A recent case report describes the presence of pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, and pneumorrhachis in a child asthmatic patient who had a history of fever, violent cough.

Corresponding author :