Symptomatic Concomitant Pneumocephalus and Pneumorachis Following Spine Surgery: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Lumbar spine decompression and fixation is one of the most common spine surgeries performed these days. Pneumocephalus and pneumorachis is pathological collection of air in cranial cavity and spinal canal respectively. An 82-year male underwent open lumbar decompression and fixation for lumbar spinal stenosis. There was no obvious intraoperative dural tear. In post-operative period patient complained of headache and dizziness. CT scan brain and whole spine and MRI brain obtained which showed the patient to have pneumocephalus and pneumorachis. The patient was managed conservatively with trendelenburg position, oxygen by mask. He improved symptomatically and follow up CT was suggestive of resolution of pneumocephalus. At 2 years follow-up the patient is doing well with no symptoms at present. We report a rare case of concomitant pneumocephalus with pneumorachis in a patient following lumbar decompression and fixation surgery and literature review.