Fat Embolism and Cerebral Infarction after Use of Methylmethacrylic Cement

Abstract

In view of the current interest in the cardiovascular effects of methylmethacrylic cement (Powell et al., 1970; Peebles et al., 1972) and its implication in the genesis of fat embolism (Hyland and Robins, 1970; Gresham et al., 1971), we report the case of a patient who failed to recover consciousness after Schier's arthroplasty in which methylmethacrylic bone cement was used. Both cerebral fat embolism and infarction within cerebral arterial boundary zones were found at necropsy. © 1972, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.