{"id":"ebda951a-ec9b-4053-8c99-d9d0d49c2a18","slug":"pulmonary-cement-embolism-following-transpedicular-screws-placement-for-thoracolumbar-fractures","title":"Pulmonary cement embolism following transpedicular screws placement for thoracolumbar fractures","authors":["Fernando Alvarado Gomez","Omar Marroquín Herrera","Jorge L. Villán Gaona","Carlos A. Fuentes Reyes","Martha L. Caicedo Gutiérrez","Luis C. Morales Saenz"],"abstract":"Background: Symptomatic pulmonary cement embolism in patients undergoing thoracic transpedicular fenestrated screw placement is rare. Here, we have added a 64-year-old female undergoing transpedicular screw placement for a T11 fracture who developed a pulmonary cement embolism intraoperatively and add this case to 13 others identified in the literature. Case Description: A 64-year-old female presented with a type “C”, ASIA “E” T11 fracture. The thoracolumbar pedicle screw fixation was supplemented with bone cement due to her underlying severe osteoporosis. During the fluoroscopy-guided supplementation with bone cement, a leak through the paravertebral venous system was noted. Thirty minutes later, the patient acutely developed extreme respiratory failure and required mechanical ventilation for the next 2 days. The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism due to bone cement was confirmed on a contrast computed tomography study of the chest. Conclusion: Symptomatic pulmonary cement embolization supplementing transpedicular screws placement for osteoporotic bone is rare. Here, we present a 64-year-old female who during transpedicular fixation of a T11 fracture developed an acute pulmonary embolism from the bone cement resulting in the need for 2 days of postoperative artificial ventilation.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/ebda951a-ec9b-4053-8c99-d9d0d49c2a18/featured/hero-1781562009610.png","publishDate":"2021-09-30T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_817_2021","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/ebda951a-ec9b-4053-8c99-d9d0d49c2a18/pdf"}