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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on July 10, 2008
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1159

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 29:1986-1988, November-December 2008
© 2008 American Society of Neuroradiology

Case Report
SPINE

Cement-Embolic Stroke Associated with Vertebroplasty

F.A. Marden^a and C.M. Putman^b

^a Department of Radiology, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Va
^b Department of Neurosurgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC

Please address correspondence to F. Marden, MD, Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, 800 Biesterfield Rd, Eberle Bldg, Suite 610, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; e-mail: mardenf{at}alexian.net

SUMMARY: Major neurologic morbidity and mortality with vertebroplasty are rare. We describe a 71-year-old woman who had a stroke approximately 30 minutes after vertebroplasty. Imaging revealed that bone cement had embolized to the left middle cerebral artery. Emergency embolectomy was attempted but was unsuccessful. This report emphasizes the need to be aware that intracranial embolization of polymethylmethacrylate can occur and describes management strategies to consider.