Korean J Neurotrauma.  2017 Oct;13(2):176-179. 10.13004/kjnt.2017.13.2.176.

A Rare Complication of Lumbar Spinal Surgery: Pneumocephalus

• Özdemir U

• KMID: 2394557
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2017.13.2.176

Abstract

A 25-year-old male patient with severe thigh and right side pain was presented. In the lumbar magnetic resonance images, there was a contrasting spinal cord tumor image with 1 cm in diameter at the level of the L3 vertebra. The patient was operated and the tumor was totally removed. All the pain of the patient recovered. The patient's postoperative two days were very comfortable and the patient was early mobilized. On the third postoperative day, the patient complained of severe headache, nausea and vomiting. Immediate cranial computed tomography (CT) images was performed. Cerebral pneumocephalus was present in CT. The patient was treated with definite bed rest and plenty of fluid replacement. After three days, the patient's complaints were completely improved. This improvement was confirmed by performing a cerebral CT scan. In the formation of pneumocephalus, air is compressed into the intradural space during operation and this passes to the cerebral space. Definite bed rest, abundant fluid replacement and, in addition, highly inspired oxygen therapy are sufficient to correct the condition.

Keyword

Hydration; Oxygen therapy; Pneumocephalus; Spinal cord tumor

MeSH Terms

Adult
Bed Rest
Headache
Humans
Male
Nausea
Oxygen
Pneumocephalus*
Spinal Cord Neoplasms
Spine
Thigh
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vomiting
Oxygen

Figure

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  FIGURE 1 Intradural extramedullary enhancing tumor is noted at the 1st lumbar level.

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  FIGURE 2 Brain computed tomography 3 days after lumbar surgery. Numerous air density is shown in the convexity area.

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  FIGURE 3 Brain computed tomography 3 days after conservative management. The previous noted air is completely disappeared.

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