Traumatic pneumocephalus in a dog.

Traumatic pneumocephalus in a dog.

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009 May 15;234(10):1295-8

Authors: Haley AC, Abramson C

Case Description-A 17-month-old dog was evaluated because of progressive tetraparesis. The dog had a history of craniofacial trauma at 2 months of age. Clinical Findings-Results of a neurologic examination were suggestive of a lesion localized to the medulla. Computed tomography revealed extensive pneumocephalus extending throughout the ventricular system and into the cranial cervical subarachnoid space. Treatment and Outcome-Because of the deterioration in the dog’s clinical condition, an emergency bilateral transfrontal craniectomy was performed. A large amount of pyogranulomatous material was found intraoperatively. Neurologic and computed tomographic abnormalities were no longer evident during a recheck examination 8 weeks after surgery. Clinical Relevance-Findings suggested that pneumocephalus should be considered in the differential diagnosis for dogs with neurologic signs of an intracranial abnormality, particularly if the dog has a history of craniofacial trauma.

PMID: 19442025 [PubMed - in process]