Traumatic Pneumorrhachis in a Young Male Motor Vehicle Accident Victim

Pneumorrhachis (PR), which involves the entrapment of air or gas within the spinal canal, is a rare clinical entity. The pathogenesis and etiology of this uncommon entity vary and may present a diagnostic challenge. Air in the spinal canal can be divided into primary and secondary PR, extra- or intradural PR and etiologically classified as iatrogenic, traumatic and non-traumatic. PR is typically asymptomatic but can be symptomatic–by itself or by its underlying pathology. The latter, although often severe, might be concealed and must be carefully examined to facilitate adequate patient treatment. Here we report a rare case of traumatic PR in a 28-year old man following a motor vehicle accident in northern Iran, who sustained paraplegia and sphincter dysfunction without any laceration and wound in the spinal area.