Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism Following Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Case Report

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication associated with orthopedic surgery. It is well recognized in major procedures, such as total hip arthroplasty. However, there are few reports on the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and its related risk factors following less invasive procedures, such as arthroscopic knee surgery. We present the case of a previously healthy young adult who developed bilateral PE following arthroscopic ACLR. The patient had no known predisposing risk factors for VTE. Early postoperative symptoms were nonspecific and resulted in delayed clinical diagnosis. Imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis bilateral PE. The patient was successfully managed with appropriate anticoagulation medication, leading to complete clinical recovery and resolution of symptoms. He was discharged in a stable condition and remained clinically stable during follow-up, with no further complications. Although VTE is a known complication of ACLR, this case highlights that VTE may occur even after routine arthroscopic procedures in patients without identifiable risk factors, underscoring the need for a high index of clinical suspicion and timely diagnostic assessment of postoperative symptoms to prevent delayed recognition of potentially life-threatening PE.