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Case
report
Posttraumatic intradural pneumorrhachis: A rare entity
S Dwarakanath M Ch, Anirban Banerji M Ch,
BA Chandramouli M Ch
Department of Neurosurgery,
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore,
India
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Abstract
Pneumorrhachis, denoting intra-spinal air, is an uncommon epiphenomenon
of coincident underlying injuries and diseases, accompanied by different
aetiologies and possible pathways of air entry into the spinal canal.
Air within the spinal canal can be divided into primary and secondary
pneumorrhachis, extra- or intradural pneumorrhachis and aetiologically
subsumed into iatrogenic, traumatic and nontraumatic The pathogenesis
and aetiologies of pneumorrhachis are multifold and can be a diagnostic
challenge. CT is the imaging tool of choice. Pneumorrhachis has
to be differentiated from free intraspinal gas collections and the
coexistence of air and gas within the spinal canal has to be considered
differential diagnostically. Pneumorrhachis usually is asymptomatic
but can also be symptomatic by itself as well as by its underlying
pathology. The latter, although often severe, might be concealed
and has to be examined carefully to enable adequate patient treatment.
The management of pneumorrhachis has to be individualized.
Keywords
pneumorrhachis, intradural, spinal canal
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Address for correspondence:
Dr Dwarakanath
S.
Associate Professor,
Neurosurgery
National Instt. of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS)
Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029 (Karnataka)
Ph.: 918026995724
Fax : 918026564830,
E-mail : dwarakaneuro@yahoo.com
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