Polymethylmethacrylate Pulmonary Embolism Following Kyphoplasty

Abstract

We report a case of polymethylmethacrylate cement pulmonary embolism (PE) that occurred two days following a minimally invasive kyphoplasty procedure. Our patient developed non-specific rib pain postoperatively followed by dyspnea, prompting presentation to the emergency department. The polymethylmetacrylate cement was visualized on initial chest radiograph and further characterized using computed tomography. The patient was admitted and anticoagulation started, later having an uncomplicated hospital course. The polymethylmethacrylate cement has a well-documented history of leakage and other postoperative complications. Cement PE, while rare, can present similarly to a thrombotic PE and requires adequate long-term anticoagulation with close follow-up.