Spinal epidural air after severe pelvic and abdominal trauma
Oliver P Gautschi1, Christel Hermann, Dieter Cadosch
1Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, 9000 St Gallen, Switzerland. ogautschi@datacomm.ch
Abstract:
Air in the lumbar spinal canal after trauma is uncommon. However, it can be observed in a number of pathologic settings including tumor, infection, degenerative disk disease, and in patients who have undergone therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Intraspinal gas is usually asymptomatic. We report a case of a motorcycle accident resulting in a complex open pelvic and multiple long bone fractures. Air was discovered within the spinal canal between levels L3 and L5 on a computed tomographic scan. This case provides further evidence that intraspinal air may remain without symptoms and that possible resultant symptoms and the air can disappear spontaneously.
Related Concept Videos
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:


