Case Report of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome After Photosensitive Bone Stabilization System Balloon Rupture: Unclear Etiology From Fat Embolism or Pulmonary Inflammation From Monomeric Resin

This case describes a 74-year-old woman who developed post-surgical acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System (PBSS)a balloon rupture with extravasation of approximately 20 mL of monomeric resin. The ARDS likely resulted from 2 possibilities: (1) displacement of fat or tumor embolism from PBSS insertion/inflation, displacement from bioinert monomers, or orthopedic screws; or (2) chemical inflammation/pneumonitis due to intravascular dissemination of bioinert monomeric resin. Though balloon rupture and/or fat embolism is a stated manufacturer risk, (IlluminOss. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://illuminoss.com/uploads/nuggets/60e47f517ee33862a5fcaab8/900356_T.pdf) this is the first published human case report of ARDS as a complication of PBSS balloon rupture.