Pneumothorax due to a non-traumatic thoracic wall rupture due to steroid induced muscle wasting.

Spontaneous pneumothorax can be classified in primary and secondary variants. We present a 58-year-old patient presented with a 7-week history of severe coughing, chest pain and he noticed progressive swelling of the face and upper part of the body. His medical history revealed osteoporosis and severe rheumatoid arthritis treated with steroids and DMARDs (disease modifying antirheumatic drugs). Computed Tomography (CT) of the thorax revealed complete rupture of the thoracic wall through costa 9-10 with lung herniation. The defect was closed using dual mesh and pneumothorax was treated. Two weeks after surgery subcutaneous emphysema resolved and patient was discharged from hospital.