Spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with subcutaneous emphysema causing brachial plexus palsy in a term newborn

Abstract

Neonatal pneumomediastinum is a rare condition which often occurs during the setting of assisted ventilation of premature or diseased lungs. Brachial palsy occurs in presence of impression on cervical and throcal nerve roots due to birth-related trauma. In this case; we present a progressive spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Although subcutaneous emphysema was involving the whole neck, right cervical region was predominantly involved. Even though there was no diagnosed brachial palsy just after delivery, in time, we realized that the right arm was affected. In the literature, we couldn’t find any reported case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with subcutaneous emphysema causing brachial plexus palsy in neonatal period.