Pulmonary embolism caused by acrylic cement: a rare complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty

B Padovani; O Kasriel; P Brunner; P Peretti-Viton

Pulmonary embolism caused by acrylic cement: a rare complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1999 Mar;20(3):375-7.

Authors

B Padovani¹, O Kasriel, P Brunner, P Peretti-Viton

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiology, Hôpital Pasteur, Nice, France.

PMID: 10219399
PMCID: PMC7056072

Abstract

A pulmonary embolus of acrylic cement was present in a 41-year-old woman with Langerhans' cell vertebral histiocytosis (LCH) after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Chest radiograph and CT confirmed pulmonary infarction and the presence of cement in the pulmonary arteries. She was treated with anticoagulants, and responded favorably. This rare complication occurred because perivertebral venous migration was not recognized during vertebroplasty. Adequate preparation of cement and biplane fluoroscopy are recommended for vertebroplasty.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
Bone Cements / adverse effects*
Female
Fluoroscopy
Foreign-Body Migration / etiology
Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / therapy*
Humans
Lumbar Vertebrae / blood supply
Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology*
Polymethyl Methacrylate / adverse effects*
Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy
Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
Radiography, Interventional
Spinal Diseases / therapy*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Veins
Vena Cava, Inferior

Substances

Anticoagulants
Bone Cements
Polymethyl Methacrylate