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Pulmonary Cement Embolism After Kyphoplasty
Author(s) -
Focardi Martina,
Bonelli Aurelio,
Pinchi Vilma,
De Luca Federica,
Norelli GianAristide
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12957
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary embolism , embolization , bone cement , embolism , cement , radiology , surgery , lung , catheter , history , archaeology
Pulmonary polymethylmethacrylate ( PMMA ) cement embolism after kyphoplasty (KP) surgery is a quite frequent event as well as the pulmonary embolization of central venous catheter fragment. This report shows the case of a subject who, after KP, developed pulmonary embolism and who underwent thoracic surgery. After hospital discharge, the subject advanced a claim for damages toward the hospital where he was operated, complaining sensation of tenderness at the chest surgical scar and esthetic damage. To understand the nature of the embolism (either central venous catheter fragment or cement), chemical investigations were then ordered. Spectrometry identified the PMMA cement used for KP. When doubts rise about the origin of the embolized material, chemical investigations may reveal important data not only for clinical but also for forensic purposes.