Background: Pneumorrhachis (intraspinal air) is usually asymptomatic. Therefore, most patients with pneumorrhachis usually are managed conservatively. Rarely, pneumorrhachis is symptomatic and associated with discomfort, pain, and neurological deficits.
Purpose: To present a 72-year-old man who presented with progressive weakness of the lower extremities with a large amount of intraspinal air that compressed the spinal cord.
Study design: A case report
Methods: Review of the medical record and radiographs.
Results: A C7 total laminectomy was performed, and the patient fully recovered 1 month after surgery.
Conclusion: The possibility that neurological symptoms could be caused by non-traumatic intraspinal air should be considered.