Symptomatic tension pneumocephalus following Palacos® cranioplasty in a shunted patient

Abstract

Tension pneumocephalus is an exceedingly rare complication of cerebrospinal fluid diversion occurring after surgery, trauma or spontaneous fistula formation. We report a case in a patient with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt who developed symptomatic tension pneumocephalus via a skin defect within 24 hours of undergoing bone cement cranioplasty.

Keywords:

• Tension pneumocephalus
• Palacos
• cranioplasty
• CSF diversion
• ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Disclosure statement

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Patient consent

The patient has consented to the submission of the case report for submission to the journal.