Traumatic epidural emphysema.

Abstract

This is a case report. A rare case of epidural emphysema secondary to traumatic pneumomediastinum in the absence of pneumothorax is reported. Epidural air secondary to traumatic pneumomediastinum in the absence of pneumothorax has only been reported previously by Willing. Other causes of traumatic epidural emphysema include pneumothorax, pelvic fracture, dural enteric fistula, and herniation of a spinal disc. A young man who sustained blunt cervical and chest trauma after a basketball game accident was found to have pneumomediastinum and surgical emphysema on a chest radiograph and underwent computed tomography (CT). The CT scan demonstrated surgical emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and epidural emphysema with no pneumothorax. The patient was managed conservatively, and the epidural emphysema and pneumomediastinum resolved spontaneously. Epidural emphysema secondary to traumatic pneumomediastinum is benign and self-limiting. However, the life-threatening causes should be considered and ruled out.