Bone Cement Emboli after Arthroplasty: Is It Possible? A Case Report and Literature Review

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been extensively used as bone cement in orthopedic procedures. Pulmonary cement embolisms (PCEs) are supposed to originate from cement extravasation into the basivertebral veins before draining into the inferior vena cava and eventually becoming lodged in the pulmonary capillaries. Few cases of bone cement embolism have been reported. This study reported a case of pulmonary embolism (PE) after thoracolumbar fixation and kyphoplasty and reviewed the current literature.

Case Report: 

We presented an 81-year-old woman who had undergone thoracolumbar vertebroplasty three months before admission and became symptomatic due to PE after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

This case illustrates that clinicians must be aware of the probable occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome in patients with a history of vertebroplasty.