Spinal epidural air after severe pelvic and abdominal trauma.

Air in the lumbar spinal canal after trauma is uncommon. However, it can be observed in a number of pathologic settings including tumor, infection, degenerative disk disease, and in patients who have undergone therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Intraspinal gas is usually asymptomatic. We report a case of a motorcycle accident resulting in a complex open pelvic and multiple long bone fractures. Air was discovered within the spinal canal between levels L3 and L5 on a computed tomographic scan. This case provides further evidence that intraspinal air may remain without symptoms and that possible resultant symptoms and the air can disappear spontaneously.