Pulmonary Embolism of Polymethylmethacrylate after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: A Case Report

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been extensively used as bone cement in orthopedic procedures. Adverse circulatory and pulmonary events associated with hip arthroplasty using PMMA bone cement have been documented. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an image-guided procedure in which the bone cement is injected into the compression fracture due to osteoporosis or neoplasm. We experienced a case of sudden tachypnea associated with pulmonary cement embolism in an adult male who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty.