Background: Subcutaneous emphysema is a condition characterized by the accumulation of air within the subcutaneous tissues, most commonly following trauma or injury to the chest. Although mild cases are often self-limiting, severe cases may result in significant complications if the underlying cause is not addressed. Case Presentation: A 20-year-old male presented with a painless, round swelling over the upper chest three days after sustaining blunt chest trauma. Physical examination revealed palpable crepitus, consistent with a clinical diagnosis of subcutaneous emphysema. The patient was managed conservatively with observation and advised to seek medical attention if symptoms worsened. However, he was subsequently lost to follow-up. Discussion: Subcutaneous emphysema commonly affects the chest, neck, and face due to their proximity to the lungs. Diagnosis is primarily clinical and can be supported by imaging studies such as chest X-ray, which may demonstrate the gingko leaf sign, and computed tomography (CT), which can identify subcutaneous air and determine its source. In uncomplicated cases, the trapped air is gradually reabsorbed, and complete resolution typically occurs within two weeks. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of recognizing the characteristic clinical features of subcutaneous emphysema following blunt chest trauma. Early diagnosis, appropriate monitoring, and identification of the underlying cause are essential to ensure favorable outcomes and prevent potential complications.
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*Address for Correspondence: Alhad Mulkalwar, Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai 400 012, India, Tel: +91-9423523055; E-mail: alhad.mulkalwar@gmail.com Received: 23 January 2022; Accepted: 12 February 2022; Published: 19 February 2022 Citation of this article: Mulkalwar, A., Savla, J., Deolekar, S. (2022) A Novel Case of Subcutaneous Emphysema. Arch Clin Case Rep, 5(1):
Copyright: © 2022 Alhad Mulkalwar, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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A 20 year-old male presented with a round swelling on the chest for the past three days after a blunt trauma to the area (Figure 1). Examination revealed a crackling sound and sensation (crepitus) on palpation. A clinical diagnosis of subcutaneous emphysema was made and the patient was asked to wait and watch and report in case of worsening of the swelling or symptoms; however, he was Subcutaneous emphysema occurs due to trapping of air under the skin, most likely to occur in the areas like chest, neck, and face due to their proximity to the lungs. While mild cases may not experience any symptoms at all, the more severe cases may cause significant discomfort and serious complications. These symptoms also depend on the underlying cause and location. Investigations such as X-ray (may show gingko leaf sign - striation of gas along the pectorals major muscle) and computed tomography (CT) scan (show dark pockets of air in the subcutaneous layer and may © 2022 Somato Publications. All rights reserved.
also be helpful in identifying the source of air) could be useful for diagnosis. As the air is gradually reabsorbed, the subcutaneous emphysema will usually resolve in around two weeks without serious complications provided the underlying cause is successfully