ABSTRACT
Acute appendicitis (AA) is generally considered to be a consequence of lumenal obstruction and inflammation of the appendix. At the beginning of the 20th century, trauma was considered to be one of the possible causes of AA but this relationship has not been examined much since then. Our experience with three cases of AA following blunt abdominal trauma led to an extensive review of the world literature on the subject. We believe that abdominal trauma might be causative of AA. The potential for this hazardous and easily missed diagnostic entity should be appreciated in cases of blunt abdominal trauma both for sound clinical decision making and for its potential medical and legal implications.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Injuries/complications , Appendicitis/etiology , Wounds, Nonpenetrating/complications , Acute Disease , Child , Humans , MaleSubject(s)
Frontal Bone , Frontal Sinusitis/microbiology , Haemophilus Infections , Osteomyelitis/microbiology , Adult , Frontal Sinusitis/complications , Frontal Sinusitis/diagnostic imaging , Haemophilus influenzae/isolation & purification , Humans , Male , Osteomyelitis/diagnostic imaging , Osteomyelitis/etiology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
An unusual case of CSF fistula and tension pneumatocele developing in a patient 22 years after a severe craniocerebral injury is reported. The patient had been asymptomatic during this long interval, but immediately after a minor head trauma massive rhinorrhea and diffuse pneumocephalus occurred. This was followed by the development of bifrontal tension pneumatocele with intracranial hypertension and neurological deterioration. The patient recovered after closure of the CSF fistula. The pathophysiological mechanism of this rare condition and the pertinent treatment are discussed.
