Pneumorachis of the cervical spine with associated pneumocephalus and subcutaneous emphysema

Pneumorachis, the presence of free intraspinal air, is an exceptional radiological finding. We present a case that sustained injury following an assault and was diagnosed to have diffuse pneumocephalus, pneumorachis and extensive surgical emphysema of the head and neck region secondary to the fracture of the cribriform plate of ethmoid bone. To the best of our knowledge pneumorachis due to fracture of the cribriform plate of ethmoid bone has not been reported before, in the English language literature.