Traumatic prevertebral emphysema: Report of 5 cases

Abstract

Prevertebral emphysema following blunt trauma is an unusual condition that may indicate underlying life-threatening conditions like esophageal perforation and tracheobronchial injury. Since it is less common than other post-traumatic conditions such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, pneumomediastinum, or lung contusion, it is often overlooked in emergency care, especially in resource-limited settings. Here, we present five cases of prevertebral emphysema diagnosed and managed in a low-resource setting following trauma and propose a diagnostic algorithm.