Arch Craniofac Surg.  2016 Dec;17(4):225-228. 10.7181/acfs.2016.17.4.225.

Communicating Hydrocephalus Onset Following a Traumatic Tension Pneumocephalus

• Lee JS
• Ahn S
• Eom KS

• KMID: 2364353
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7181/acfs.2016.17.4.225

Abstract

The entrapment of intracranial air from the check valve system results in a tension pneumocephalus. It should be distinguished from simple pneumocephalus because they are intracranial space-occupying masses that can threaten life. Communicating hydrocephalus is a serious and frequent complication of post-traumatic head injury. Head injury is one of the most common causes in etiopathogenesis of communicating hydrocephalus. Here, we describe a case of a 65-year-old man who developed communicating hydrocephalus after a post-traumatic tension pneumocephalus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of communicating hydrocephalus developed after a post-traumatic tension pneumocephalus. Although the exact pathogenic mechanisms underlying the cascade following trauma remain unclear, communicating hydrocephalus after a tension pneumocephalus could be considered a possible complication.

Keyword

Tension pneumocephalus; Hydrocephalus; Head injury; Complication

MeSH Terms

Aged
Craniocerebral Trauma
Humans
Hydrocephalus*
Pneumocephalus*