We report a case of pulmonary embolism occurring transiently during impaction of morsellized bone graft in the femoral medullary canal as a part of revision hip arthroplasty. To our knowledge this complication has not yet been reported during impaction bone grafting. Increased awareness would lead to use of monitoring devices and early intervention during revision hip surgery.
JazrawiL.M., Della ValleC.J., KummerF.J., AdlerE.M., Di CesareP.M.. Catastrophic failure of a cemented, collarless, polished, tapered, cobalt chromium stem used with impaction bone grafting.J Bone Joint Surg (Am)1999; 81-A: 844–47.
2.
MedingJ.B., RitterM.A., KeatingE.M., FarisP.M.. Impaction bone grafting before insertion of a femoral stem with cement in revision hip arthroplasty.J Bone Joint Surg (Am)1997; 79-A: 1834–41.
3.
PekkarinJ., AlhoA., LepistoJ., YlikoskiM., YlinenP., PaavilainenT.. Impaction bone grafting in revision hip surgery - a high incidence of complications.J Bone Joint Surg (Br)2000; 82-B: 103–7.
4.
UrbanM.K., SheppardR., GordonM.A., UrquhartB.L.. Right ventricular function during revision hip arthroplasty.Anesth Analg1996; 82: 1225–9.
5.
FitzgeraldR., MasonL., KanumilliV., KleinhomerK., SakamotoA., JohnsonC.. Transient cardiac stand still associated with embolic phenomena diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during insertion of cemented total hip arthroplasty.Anesth Analg1994; 79: 382–5.
6.
PittoR., KoenlerM., KuehleJ.W.. Comparison of fixation of the femoral component without cement and fixation with use of a bone vacuum cementing technique for prevention of fat embolism during total hip arthroplasty - a prospective randomized clinical study.J Bone Joint Surg (Am)1999; 81-A: 831–47.
