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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
09:29
Nine-Grid Area Division Method: A New Ideal Bone Puncture Region for Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Lumbar Spine
Published on: August 9, 2024
Cement-embolic stroke associated with vertebroplasty.
1Department of Radiology, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, USA. mardenf@alexian.net
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|July 12, 2008
Summary
Vertebroplasty rarely causes stroke, but a case report highlights bone cement embolizing to the brain. This rare complication requires awareness and specific management strategies for neuroprotection.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure for treating vertebral compression fractures.
- Major neurologic complications, including stroke, are considered rare following vertebroplasty.
Observation:
- A 71-year-old woman experienced a stroke approximately 30 minutes after undergoing vertebroplasty.
- Cerebral imaging confirmed that bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate) had embolized to the left middle cerebral artery.
Findings:
- The patient underwent an emergency embolectomy, which unfortunately was unsuccessful in removing the embolus.
- This case illustrates a rare but serious complication of vertebroplasty: intracranial embolization of bone cement.
Implications:
- Neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists must be vigilant for potential intracranial cement embolization during vertebroplasty.
- Awareness of this complication is crucial for prompt diagnosis and consideration of appropriate management strategies to mitigate neurologic damage.
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