Lower limb arterial thrombosis due to biopolymer injection: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

Demand of biopolymer injections has steadily increased in the last decade. Complications associated with this procedure can be innocuous or even life-threatening, presenting from immediately to years later, locally or systemically, with mechanical, inflammatory, or autoimmune characteristics.

Objectives

To present a rare manifestation of an increasing health problem, clinicians must be attentive to this kind of complication.

Materials and methods

Clinical and laboratory data were searched from the clinical history; informed consent was obtained, and the Ethics Committee of Fundación Valle del Lili reviewed and approved this study. We report a patient who presented long-standing symptoms but only consulted after the onset of an acute lower limb arterial thrombosis that could have been fatal without rapid intervention. Ischemia was secondary to arterial obstruction related to biopolymer migration.

Results

A femoral and popliteal embolectomy was performed in which severe soft tissue fibrosis and encapsulated bodies were observed. The patient received thromboprophylaxis and low-dose oral glucocorticoid presenting a favorable evolution.

Conclusions

This substance probably acted as a foreign body and triggered an inflammatory reaction with a subsequent state of hypercoagulability, fibrosis, and nodule formation.