Pneumorrhachis following cervical spine surgery

A 66-year-old man experienced symptomatic pneumorrhachis (air within the spinal canal) following a cervical laminoplasty for the excision of meningioma. Following an uneventful intraoperative course, he suffered a fluctuating hemiparesis of varying severity. Urgent imaging demonstrated extradural and intradural air in the spinal canal. Treatment with supplemental oxygen and dexamethasone was commenced, and the patient's symptoms improved over a period of three days with full resolution at six weeks. Pneumorrhachis can be avoided by allowing air to escape from the spinal canal through positioning, and displacement with irrigation fluid at the time of wound closure. However, if pneumorrhachis does occur, oxygen therapy, positioning of the patient to mitigate the gravitational effect of the air bubbles and supportive treatment are the central elements of management. Other possible causes of neurological deficit should be ruled out. This is particularly important as treatment options for some differential diagnoses can potentially cause harm if started based on clinical impression alone, for example, re-exploration for suspected haematoma. Only a small number of previous reports have described symptomatic pneumorrhachis as a complication of spinal surgery. This patient was successfully managed with conservative measures following the exclusion of other spinal cord pathologies.