No abstract available.
Meningitis ; Pneumocephalus

PURPOSE: To report a case of orbital apex syndrome (OAS) combined with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) following blunt trauma. CASE SUMMARY: A 4-year-old female visited the hospital following a traffic accident. She was admitted because of multiple fractures of the skull and pneumocephalus. On day 5, she was referred to us with decreased visual acuity in her right eye. Her initial visual acuity was hand motions in the right eye and 0.8 in the left eye. The right eye showed a dilated pupil, ptosis, and total ophthalmoplegia, and the left eye showed limited abduction. A fundus examination revealed multiple retinal hemorrhages, tortuous veins, and an edematous white retina with a cherry-red spot in the right eye. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an entrapped right optic nerve because of bony fragments in the orbital apex. The patient was diagnosed with OAS accompanied by CRAO and CRVO in the right eye, and with traumatic abducens nerve palsy in the left eye. After 6 months, the visual acuity was hand motions, and the fundus examination showed absorbed retinal hemorrhages, pale discs, and general retinal thinning of the right eye. Ptosis of the right eye and extraocular muscle movement of both eyes were improved. CONCLUSIONS: Combined CRAO and CRVO following trauma is very rare and is even more rarely associated with OAS. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the potential for central retinal vessel occlusions and OAS in cases of blunt ocular trauma.
Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Accidents, Traffic ; Brain ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fractures, Multiple ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Optic Nerve ; Orbit ; Pneumocephalus ; Pupil ; Retina ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinal Vein ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde ; Skull ; Veins ; Visual Acuity

Epiduroscopy is defined as a percutaneous, minimally invasive endoscopic investigation of the epidural space. Periduroscopy is currently used mainly as a diagnostic tool to directly visualize epidural adhesions in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and as a therapeutic action in patients with low back pain by accurately administering drugs, releasing inflammation, washing the epidural space, and mechanically releasing the scars displayed. Considering epiduroscopy a minimally invasive technique should not lead to underestimating its potential complications. The purpose of this review is to summarize and explain the mechanisms of the side effects strictly related to the technique itself, leaving aside complications considered typical for any kind of extradural procedure (e.g. adverse reactions due to the administration of drugs or bleeding) and not fitting the usual concept of epiduroscopy for which the data on its real usefulness are still lacking. The most frequent complications and side effects of epiduroscopy can be summarized as non-persistent post-procedural low back and/or leg discomfort/pain, transient neurological symptoms (headache, hearing impairment, paresthesia), dural puncture with or without post dural puncture headache (PDPH), post-procedural visual impairment with retinal hemorrhage, encephalopathy resulting in rhabdomyolysis due to a dural tear, intradural cyst, as well as neurogenic bladder and seizures. We also report for first time, to our knowledge, a case of symptomatic pneumocephalus after epiduroscopy, and try to explain the reason for this event and the precautions to avoid this complication.
Brain Diseases ; Cicatrix ; Epidural Space ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Paresthesia ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Pneumocephalus ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache ; Punctures ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Seizures ; Tears ; Tissue Adhesions ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Vision Disorders

After the trauma of frontoethmoidal sinus, post-traumatic mucocele may occur. Surgical removal of the lesions rarely produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and even delayed tension pneumocephalus. We experienced a case of fronto-ethmoid mucocele complicated with peri-operative CSF leakage and post-operative tension pneumocephalus which was improved by conservative treatment. It is imperative to take into account the potential for tension pneumocephalus when a patient suffers from severe headache after sinus surgery.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Frontal Sinus ; Headache ; Humans ; Mucocele ; Pneumocephalus*

Septoplasty/septorhinoplasty is a common ear, nose and throat procedure offered for those patients with deviated septum who are suffering from nasal obstruction and functional or cosmetic problems. Although it is a basic and simple procedure, it could lead to catastrophic complications including major skull base injuries which result in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. We describe two different cases of traumatic CSF leaks following septoplasty/septorhinoplasty at two different sites. The first patient suffered a CSF leak following septoplasty and presented to Alexandria University Hospital. The leak was still active at presentation and identified as coming from a defect in the roof of the sphenoid sinus and was repaired surgically. The second patient presented 4 days after her cosmetic septorhinoplasty with a CSF leak and significant pneumocephalus. She was managed conservatively. Understanding the anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses and implementing proper surgical techniques are crucial in preventing intracranial complications when performing either septoplasty or septorhinoplasty. A good quality computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses is a valuable investigation to avoid major complications especially CSF leaks following either procedure.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Ear ; Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Pharynx ; Pneumocephalus ; Rhinoplasty ; Skull Base ; Sphenoid Sinus

Epidural anesthesia has significantly advanced in neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia. It is used for surgical anaesthesia and treatment of chronic pain. Hearing loss during or after epidural anesthesia is rare, and it is known to occur by the change of the intracranial pressure. Cerebrospinal fluid is connected with perilymph in the cochlear and vestibule that is important to hearing and balance. If the intracranial pressure is abruptly transferred to the inner ear, perilymph can be leak, that called perilymphatic fistula, dizziness, and hearing loss can occur suddenly. We report a 65-year-old woman who presented with acute onset dizziness and hearing loss during the epidural nerve block for back pain, wherein we speculated a possibility of perilymphatic fistula as the mechanism of hearing loss and dizziness. The mechanism of dizziness and hearing loss was suspected with perilymphatic fistula.
Aged ; Anesthesia and Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Back Pain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chronic Pain ; Dizziness ; Ear, Inner ; Female ; Fistula ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Nerve Block ; Perilymph ; Pneumocephalus ; Vertigo

A 25-year-old male patient with severe thigh and right side pain was presented. In the lumbar magnetic resonance images, there was a contrasting spinal cord tumor image with 1 cm in diameter at the level of the L3 vertebra. The patient was operated and the tumor was totally removed. All the pain of the patient recovered. The patient's postoperative two days were very comfortable and the patient was early mobilized. On the third postoperative day, the patient complained of severe headache, nausea and vomiting. Immediate cranial computed tomography (CT) images was performed. Cerebral pneumocephalus was present in CT. The patient was treated with definite bed rest and plenty of fluid replacement. After three days, the patient's complaints were completely improved. This improvement was confirmed by performing a cerebral CT scan. In the formation of pneumocephalus, air is compressed into the intradural space during operation and this passes to the cerebral space. Definite bed rest, abundant fluid replacement and, in addition, highly inspired oxygen therapy are sufficient to correct the condition.
Adult ; Bed Rest ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Nausea ; Oxygen ; Pneumocephalus* ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; Spine ; Thigh ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vomiting

Pneumocephalus is commonly seen after craniofacial injury. The pathogenesis of pneumocephalus has been debated as to whether it was caused by ball valve effect or combined episodic increased pressure within the nasopharynx on coughing. Discontinuous exchange of air and cerebrospinal fluid due to “inverted bottle” effect is assumed to be the cause of it. Delayed tension pneumocephalus is not common, but it requires an active management in order to prevent serious complication. We represent a clinical case of a 57-year-old male patient who fell down from 3 m height, complicated by tension pneumocephalus on 5 months after trauma. We recommend a surgical intervention, but the patient did not want that so we observe the patient. The patient was underwent seizure and meningitis after 7 months after trauma, he came on emergency room on stupor mentality. Tension pneumocephalus may result in a neurologic disturbance due to continued air entrainment and it significantly the likelihood of intracranial infection caused by continued open channel. Tension pneumocephalus threat a life, so need a neurosurgical emergency surgical intervention.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; Cough ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Male ; Meningitis ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharynx ; Pneumocephalus* ; Seizures ; Stupor

A 45-year-old woman was admitted due to severe headache and neck stiffness. She had visited a local clinic for back pain and received a lumbar nerve root steroid injection 10 days before admission. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed psoas abscess, pneumocephalus, and subdural hygroma. She was diagnosed with psoas abscess and meningitis. The abscess and external ventricle were drained, and antibiotics were administered. Unfortunately, the patient died on hospital day 19 due to diffuse leptomeningitis. Lumbar nerve root steroid injections are commonly used to control back pain. Vigilance to "red flag signs" and a rapid diagnosis can prevent lethal outcomes produced by rare and unexpected complications related to infection. Here, we report a case of fatal meningitis after infection of the cerebrospinal fluid following a lumbar nerve root steroid injection.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Back Pain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pneumocephalus ; Psoas Abscess ; Subdural Effusion

Lumbar epidural block using a “loss of resistance” technique (LORT) with air can potentially cause pneumocephalus. Herein, we present a pneumocephalus that occurred after an epidural block. A 58-year-old male patient underwent an interlaminar lumbar epidural block using a LORT with air for L4–5 disc herniation. After the block, the patient complained of headache, vomiting, and truncal myoclonus. For further evaluation, a brain computed tomography was performed, and pneumocephalus was finally diagnosed. The patient underwent conservative treatment and recovered without any complications. He was discharged on the 11th day after the block.
Brain ; Headache ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myoclonus ; Pneumocephalus* ; Vomiting