title: Pulmonary Cement Embolism After Kyphoplasty.
abstract: Pulmonary polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement embolism after kyphoplasty (KP) surgery is a quite frequent event as well as the pulmonary embolization of central venous catheter fragment. This report shows the case of a subject who, after KP, developed pulmonary embolism and who underwent thoracic surgery. After hospital discharge, the subject advanced a claim for damages toward the hospital where he was operated, complaining sensation of tenderness at the chest surgical scar and esthetic damage. To understand the nature of the embolism (either central venous catheter fragment or cement), chemical investigations were then ordered. Spectrometry identified the PMMA cement used for KP. When doubts rise about the origin of the embolized material, chemical investigations may reveal important data not only for clinical but also for forensic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Forensic Medicine Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Focardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Forensic Medicine Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Forensic Medicine Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pinchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Forensic Medicine Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Forensic Medicine Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian-Aristide
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Norelli
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements; D003738:Dental Cements; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism; D016103:Spinal Fractures
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D003738:Dental Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: case reconstruction; forensic pathology; forensic science; kyphoplasty; polymethylmethacrylate; pulmonary cement embolism