Hamman's syndrome is a syndrome of spontaneous subcutaneous emphysema

Subcutaneous emphysema

Subcutaneous emphysema, sometimes abbreviated SCE or SE and also called tissue emphysema, or Sub Q air, occurs when gas or air is present in the subcutaneous layer of the skin. Subcutaneous refers to the tissue beneath the cutis of the skin, and emphysema refers to trapped air...

 (air in the subcutaneous tissue

Subcutaneous tissue

The hypodermis, also called the hypoderm, subcutaneous tissue, or superficial fascia is the lowermost layer of the integumentary system in vertebrates. Types of cells that are found in the hypodermis are fibroblasts, adipose cells, and macrophages...

s of the skin) and pneumomediastinum

Pneumomediastinum

Pneumomediastinum is a condition in which air is present in the mediastinum...

 (air in the mediastinum

Mediastinum

The mediastinum is a non-delineated group of structures in the thorax, surrounded by loose connective tissue. It is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity...

, the center of the chest cavity), sometimes associated with pain.

It was named after Johns Hopkins

Johns Hopkins University

The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...

 clinician Louis Hamman

Louis Hamman

Louis Virgil Hamman, M.D. was recognized as one of the great clinicians in his time.He was graduated M.D...

, M.D.

Hamman's syndrome can cause Hamman's sign

Hamman's sign

Hamman's sign is a crunching, rasping sound, synchronous with the heartbeat, heard over the precordium in spontaneous mediastinal emphysema produced by the heart beating against air-filled tissues....

.

Causes

The syndrome is caused by alveolar rupture and can be seen post partum.

It most commonly occurs in young women.