title: Pulmonary cement embolism after kyphoplasty.
abstract: An 80-year-old female with a history of osteoporosis was evaluated for sudden onset axial low back pain with bilateral lower extremity weakness, hyperreflexia, pain, urinary retention, and decreased rectal tone. Computed tomography of the lumbar spine revealed L1 compression fracture, retropulsion of bone causing spinal canal compromise with associated severe central canal stenosis. Following cement kyphoplasty of L1 with polymethyl methacrylate, the patient developed tachycardia and dyspnea. Chest radiograph and computed tomographic pulmonary angiogram revealed a large collection of hyperdense material within the right lower lobe pulmonary artery, consistent with pulmonary cement emboli. Management and imaging are discussed.
authors: Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Chong
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Lieu
authors: Todd
authors: T
authors: Alamin
authors: Raj
authors: R
authors: Mitra
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054854:Vertebroplasty
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements