A very rare complication of the posterior fossa decompression surgery: lumbar pneumorrhachis

Abstract

A 33-year-old man referred to our radiology department with severe low back pain for 3 weeks. He underwent a posterior fossa decompression surgery because of the presence of the Arnold-Chiari malformation 1 month ago. Thus, the patient underwent computed tomography imaging examinations to understand the possible causes of the low back pain. Posterior lamina of the first cervical vertebrae and posteroinferior part of the occipital bone of the skull has been removed to relieve pressure (Figure, Left).