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Pain and Spine Medicine

Pulmonary Cement Embolism Following Kyphoplasty: A Case Report

Saturday, October 25, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM MT
Location: Kiosk 4

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Jesse Meagher, MD

    Resident Physician
    UCF, HCA
    Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MM

    Michael McGinnis, Other

    Medical Student
    Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
    North Miami Beach, Florida

  • SB

    Samantha Bartolone, DO

    Internal Medicine Resident
    HCA Florida Westside Hospital
    Sunrise, Florida

  • NK

    Nang I. Kham, MD

    Resident Physician
    HCA Florida Westside/Northwest Hospitals
    Plantation, Florida

Disclosure(s):
Jesse Meagher, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Case Diagnosis: This case report describes a 60-year-old woman who developed chest pain and shortness of breath following kyphoplasty, with imaging revealing emphysematous changes and pulmonary cement embolism (PCE) in the lungs.

Case Description or Program Description: A 60-year-old woman with a history of mood disorder, hyperlipidemia, and chronic smoking presented with chest pain to the emergency department. She had undergone kyphoplasty approximately one week earlier. Although she did not report any significant changes in symptoms after the procedure, she suddenly developed chest pain and difficulty breathing. A CTA scan of her chest showed emphysematous changes and multiple subsegmental pulmonary artery branches containing material consistent with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cement, indicating a pulmonary cement embolism. No large vessel occlusion was observed.

Setting: inpatient hospitalization for management of PE

Assessment/Results: The patient was carefully observed for hemodynamic instability. Since there was no indication of large vessel blockage or instability, a conservative approach was taken. This involved providing supplemental oxygen, managing pain, and continuous monitoring within the hospital. In more critical cases of pulmonary cement embolism, treatments like catheter-based clot removal or surgery might be needed, but this patient's situation did not require such interventions.

Discussion (relevance): Pulmonary cement embolism (PE) can occur after vertebroplasty, with many cases remaining asymptomatic, leading to its potential under-diagnosis. Although there is a body of case reports, series, and reviews in the literature, the current data is insufficient to define a clear, standardized treatment plan. Management typically depends on whether the patient is symptomatic and the location of the emboli.

Conclusions: This case underscores the potential risk of pulmonary cement embolism following kyphoplasty. It emphasizes the importance of clinicians remaining aware and maintaining a high level of suspicion when chest pain and respiratory issues occur after spinal procedures. Not all patients will require anticoagulation, so it is important to recognize symptoms and location of emboli.