J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2015 Jun;22(2):65-68. 10.4184/jkss.2015.22.2.65.

Pulmonary and Renal Cement Embolisms During Balloon Kyphoplasty: A Case Report

• Shin CS
• Choi BY

• KMID: 2322955
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2015.22.2.65

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A case report.
OBJECTIVES
To report a case of simultaneous pulmonary and renal embolisms after balloon kyphoplasty and review relevant literature. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Pulmonary or renal embolism caused by cement leakage during balloon kyphoplasty is a rare complication but can be fatal.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An 84-year-old female patient was treated with balloon kyphoplasty for an osteoporotic compression fracture. Pulmonary and renal embolisms were detected after the procedure and the patient was treated conservatively.
RESULTS
After conservative treatment, embolism-related symptoms were not found during the follow-up period.
CONCLUSIONS
We encountered a case of simultaneous pulmonary and renal cement embolisms which occurred during kyphoplasty. This is a very rare but potentially serious complication. However, the patient had no long-term sequelae after conservative treatment.

Keyword

Spine; Compression fracture; Pulmonary embolism; Renal embolism; Kyphoplasty

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Embolism*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fractures, Compression
Humans
Kyphoplasty*
Pulmonary Embolism
Spine

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The T1 weighted sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) image of the lumbar spine shows compression fractures at L2, 3 with decreased marrow signal intensity.

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  Fig. 2. Sagittal T1-weighted MR image shows new adjacent vertebral fracture on L4 (arrow).

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  Fig. 3. An immediate postoperative radiograph shows cement leakage into the paravertebral venous system and right lung area (arrow) but there's no obvious radiopaque material in the kidney.

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  Fig. 4. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrates the presence of radiodense cement material in the segmental pulmonary arteries of the right posterior lung (arrow) (A) and in the renal vein and interlobar renal vein of the right kidney (arrow) (B).

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