[Work-related asthma in an orthopaedic surgeon].

An orthopaedic surgeon with no history of lung disease developed cough and dyspnoea. The patient was diagnosed with asthma by spirometry and bronchial provocation test with methacholine. A clear correlation between symptoms and work was established meriting a referral to a centre for occupational health. The patient was diagnosed with work-related disease, which was recognized by the industrial injury board. The cause was methyl methacrylate, a known airway irritant, which is an important component of bone cement. Previously, no cases of work-related asthma in orthopaedic surgeons have been reported.