Rodriguez-Arguisjuela M, Martin-Piñeiro B, Cuelar-Bobadilla C, et al. - A nonrandomized, prospective, case-controlled clinical study was performed to evaluate if the use of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-augmented screws is correlated with elevated lung injury in patients undergoing instrumented lumbar spinal fusion. The incidence of the event, lung damage was compared in both groups by assessing a series of parameters: arterial blood gas, transesophageal echocardiography, urinary desmosine, and chest radiograph. There was no significant variation in urine desmosine levels correlated with the augmentation of fenestrated pedicle screws with PMMA. Despite correlating individuals age 75 years or older with a younger group, no clinical, analytical, or gasometric data indicating lung damage was found in patients who had augmentation.