J Korean Pain Soc.  2002 Dec;15(2):190-193.

Pulmonary Embolism after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty with Polymethylmethacrylate: A case report

• Choi Y
• Han HC
• Lim KJ

Abstract

The technique of percutaneous vertebroplasty was developed by Galibert et al. to manage refractory vertebral-body compression fractures secondary to osteoporosis. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is performed by injecting polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) into the diseased vertebral body for partial vertebral body remodeling and pain relief. Complications are rare, those that do occur consist of local processes such as an infection, or cement leakage into the spinal canal or the perivertebral venous system. Other complications usually are related to the initial vertebral disease rather than the vertebroplasty technique itself. We report a case of a lethal pulmonary embolism caused by cement leakage into the perivertebral venous system after a percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Keyword

Pulmonary embolism; Vertebroplasty

MeSH Terms

Fractures, Compression
Osteoporosis
Polymethyl Methacrylate*
Pulmonary Embolism*
Spinal Canal
Vertebroplasty*
Polymethyl Methacrylate