Clinical significance of acute traumatic intracranial pneumocephalus

Neurosurg Rev. 1998;21(1):10-3. doi: 10.1007/BF01111479.

Abstract

Among 1142 patients with head injuries hospitalized in the Neurosurgery Department of Gazi University Medical School during the period between 1979 and 1992, 583 had initial CT scans. A retrospective analysis of these initial CT images revealed intracranial air on admission in only 21 cases. These were classified as acute traumatic intracranial pneumocephalus: a potentially serious complication of head injury. CT scans were re-evaluated so as to reveal whether air was situated in the epidural, subdural, or subarachnoid spaces or intracerebrally; whether associated space-occupying lesions were present and whether the air bubbles were single or multiple. Clinical data such as the presence of persistent rhinorrhea and/or otorrhea, tension pneumocephalus, severity and type of trauma, and outcome were were also assessed to determine the significance of this rare finding.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / complications
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumocephalus / classification
  • Pneumocephalus / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumocephalus / physiopathology*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed