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Clinical significance of acute traumatic intracranial pneumocephalus

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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 persistant rhinorrhea and/or otorrhea, tension pneumocephalus, severity and type of trauma, and outcome were also assessed to determine the significance of this rare finding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Semih Keskil, Kemali Baykaner, Necdet Çeviker, Mustafa Çengel & Toygun Orbay

  2. Department of Radiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Sedat Işik

  3. Fethiye Sokak No 4/6 Gazi Osman Paşa, 06700, Ankara, Turkey

    Semih Keskil

Authors
  1. Semih Keskil
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  2. Kemali Baykaner
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  3. Necdet Çeviker
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  4. Sedat Işik
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  5. Mustafa Çengel
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  6. Toygun Orbay
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Keskil, S., Baykaner, K., Çeviker, N. et al. Clinical significance of acute traumatic intracranial pneumocephalus. Neurosurg. Rev. 21, 10–13 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01111479

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01111479

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