Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society

The Korean Neurosurgical Society (대한신경외과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A Case of Broncho-Paraspinal Fistula Induced by Metallic Devices : Delayed Complication of Thoracic Spinal Surgery

  • Son, Seung-Nam (Department of Neurology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kang, Dong-Ho (Department of Neurosurgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Dae-Seub (Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Nack-Cheon (Department of Neurology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2010.09.07
  • Accepted : 2011.07.08
  • Published : 2011.07.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

We present a case report of a 45-year-old woman with spontaneous pneumocephalus accompanied by pneumorrhachis of the thoracic spine, which is a very rare condition generally associated with trauma and thoracic or spinal surgery. The patient had undergone an operation about 10 years earlier to treat a giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine. During the operation, a metallic device was installed, which destroyed the bronchus and caused the formation of a broncho-paraspinal fistula. This is the suspected cause of her pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis. To our knowledge, this is a very rare case of pneumocephalus accompanied by pneumorrhachis induced by metallic device, and when considering the length of time after surgery these complications presented are also exceptional.

Keywords

References

  1. Katz DS, Groskin SA, Wasenko JJ : Pneumorachis and pneumocephalus caused by pneumothorax and multiple thoracic vertebral fracture. Clin Imaging 18 : 85-87, 1994 https://doi.org/10.1016/0899-7071(94)90154-6
  2. Kim TH, Rho BH, Bahn YE, Choi WI : Giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine presenting as a posterior mediastinal tumor with benign pulmonary metastases : a case report. J Korean Soc Radiol 63 : 439-443, 2010 https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2010.63.5.439
  3. Leone MA, Stecco A, Tesser F, Carriero A, Monaco F : Pneumocephalus from bronchopleural-subarachnoid fistula. Eur Neurol 52 : 253-254, 2004 https://doi.org/10.1159/000082372
  4. Lin MBK, Cheah FK, NG SES, Yeo TT : Tension pneumocephalus and pneumorachis secondary to subarachnoid pleural fistula. Br J Radiol 73 : 325-327, 2000 https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.73.867.10817052
  5. Reddy HV, Queen S, Prakash D, Jilaihawi AN : Tension pneumocephalus : an unusual complication after lung resection. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 24 : 171-173, 2003 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-7940(03)00191-X
  6. Ristagno RL, Hiratzka LF, Rost RC Jr : An unusual case of pneumorrhachis following resectrion of lung carcinoma. Chest 121 : 1712-1714, 2002 https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.121.5.1712
  7. Sasaki K, Matsumoto T, Mizuno T, Ikuta S, Akisue T, Fujioka H, et al. : Pneumocephalus associated with cerebrospinal fluid fistula as a complication of spinal surgery : a case report. Case Report Med. 2010 June 14 [Epub ahead of print]
  8. Seok JY, Kim HS, Bae HJ, Chung HR, Kim DH, Yoon YK : CT finding of diffuse pneumocephalus due to bacterial meningitis : a case report. J Korean Radiol Soc 44 : 15-17, 2001 https://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2001.44.1.15
  9. Turgut M, Akyuz O : Symptomatic tension pneumocephalus : an unusual post-operative complication of posterior spinal surgery. J Clin Neurosci 14 : 666-668, 2007 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2006.02.021
  10. Walker FO, Vern BA : The mechanism of pneumocephalus formation in patients with CSF fistula. J Neurol Neurisurg Psychiatry 49 : 203-205, 1986 https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.49.2.203
  11. Yun JH, Kim YJ, Yoo DS, Ko JH : Diffuse pneumocephalus : a rare complication of spinal surgery. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 48 : 288-290, 2010 https://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2010.48.3.288

Cited by

  1. Trachea-Thoracic Vertebral Body Fistula Causing Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report vol.39, pp.10, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1097/brs.0000000000000287
  2. Delayed pneumocephalus induced by repeated percutaneous aspiration after spinal surgery : A case report and literature review vol.100, pp.23, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000026322