Benign noninfectious subcutaneous emphysema of the hand

A 17-year-old girl presented pain and subcutaneous crepitation in the left hand. Because of lack of systemic symptoms, non-infectious cause was considered. Radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging revealed subcutaneous emphysema. A chest x-ray was reported as normal but chest computerised tomography revealed pneumomediastinum. On the third day of the hospitalisation, subcutaneous emphysema spread to arm, shoulder, head, left hemithorax, back, bilateral supraclavicular, cervical, submandibular and periorbital regions. Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema disappeared during 6 weeks of follow up with conservative methods. This might have prevented unnecessary surgical intervention. This report demonstrates that benign non-infectious subcutaneous emphysema of the hand due to pneumomediastinum should be kept in mind in hand surgery.