Traumatic pneumocephalus

A case is described of pneumocephalus involving both frontal lobes, following a frontoethmoidal fracture. It is noteworthy because it illustrates how extensive cerebral damage may be before it it detected. Intracerebral pneumocephalus occurs most commonly in fractures involving the frontal sinus or anterior ethmoidal/cribriform plate area. These fractures are not rare, and this potential complication should be in the minds of Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons who deal with trauma to the frontonasal region.