Cerebral Infarct Complicating Traumatic Pneumatocele: A Rare Sequela Following Blunt Chest Trauma

Abstract

Systemic air embolism is known to rarely complicate blunt chest trauma. However, cerebral infarction caused by air emboli possibly originating from a traumatic pneumatocele has not been previously reported. We report a case of a 46-year-old woman who sustained blunt chest trauma with multiple rib and clavicular fractures, hemothorax and a huge, tense traumatic pneumatocele. She subsequently developed clinical and radiologic features of cerebral infarction. The cerebral infarct is likely to be secondary to cerebral air embolism originating from a traumatic pneumatocele.

Keywords

cerebral infarct - air embolism - traumatic pneumatocele - blunt chest trauma

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