Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain Injury

Objective. Pneumocephalus is a rare complication that often occurs after traumatic skull base injury, leading to morbidity and mortality. Material and Method. We present the case of a 42-year-old healthy man who injured himself when he stuck a metal stick into his left nasal cavity to relieve prolon...

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Main Authors: Che-Fang Ho, Yuan-Yun Tam, Chia-Chen Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Otolaryngology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7878646
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author Che-Fang Ho
Yuan-Yun Tam
Chia-Chen Wu
author_facet Che-Fang Ho
Yuan-Yun Tam
Chia-Chen Wu
author_sort Che-Fang Ho
collection DOAJ
description Objective. Pneumocephalus is a rare complication that often occurs after traumatic skull base injury, leading to morbidity and mortality. Material and Method. We present the case of a 42-year-old healthy man who injured himself when he stuck a metal stick into his left nasal cavity to relieve prolonged nasal obstruction. Immediate cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and subsequent meningitis and pneumocephalus occurred later. He was presented at our hospital with fever and meningeal signs. Result. Computed tomography scans revealed left rhinosinusitis and air collection in the subarachnoid space. The patient received the conservative treatment of bed rest, intravenous hydration, head elevation, and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Pneumocephalus and meningitis resolved without any surgery, and he experienced no other sequela or complication. Conclusion. Pneumocephalus is a rare incidence and can lead to high morbidity and mortality. Prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment of pneumocephalus and meningitis proved beneficial for our patient who recovered without any complication or surgery.
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spelling doaj-art-d465cfbb4bf9428ea828bfcf5c662be62025-08-20T03:23:47ZengWileyCase Reports in Otolaryngology2090-67652090-67732017-01-01201710.1155/2017/78786467878646Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain InjuryChe-Fang Ho0Yuan-Yun Tam1Chia-Chen Wu2Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung City, TaiwanDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lotung Poh-Ai Hospital, Yilan County, TaiwanDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, TaiwanObjective. Pneumocephalus is a rare complication that often occurs after traumatic skull base injury, leading to morbidity and mortality. Material and Method. We present the case of a 42-year-old healthy man who injured himself when he stuck a metal stick into his left nasal cavity to relieve prolonged nasal obstruction. Immediate cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and subsequent meningitis and pneumocephalus occurred later. He was presented at our hospital with fever and meningeal signs. Result. Computed tomography scans revealed left rhinosinusitis and air collection in the subarachnoid space. The patient received the conservative treatment of bed rest, intravenous hydration, head elevation, and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Pneumocephalus and meningitis resolved without any surgery, and he experienced no other sequela or complication. Conclusion. Pneumocephalus is a rare incidence and can lead to high morbidity and mortality. Prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment of pneumocephalus and meningitis proved beneficial for our patient who recovered without any complication or surgery.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7878646
spellingShingle Che-Fang Ho
Yuan-Yun Tam
Chia-Chen Wu
Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain Injury
Case Reports in Otolaryngology
title Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain Injury
title_full Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain Injury
title_fullStr Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain Injury
title_full_unstemmed Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain Injury
title_short Pneumocephalus Following Self-Inflicted Penetrating Brain Injury
title_sort pneumocephalus following self inflicted penetrating brain injury
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7878646
work_keys_str_mv AT chefangho pneumocephalusfollowingselfinflictedpenetratingbraininjury
AT yuanyuntam pneumocephalusfollowingselfinflictedpenetratingbraininjury
AT chiachenwu pneumocephalusfollowingselfinflictedpenetratingbraininjury