The fat embolism syndrome.

The fat embolism syndrome, often a complication of major trauma, frequently passes undiagnosed. The classical picture of cerebral confusion, respiratory distress and petechiae of skin and mucosa is not always seen. A distinction must be made between the clinical entity and fat embolism demonstrated pathologically. Post-mortem, fat embolism is often found after deaths from causes other than trauma (Sevitt 1957, 1962, Bergentz 1968). It is also found in deaths following fracture without clinical evidence of the syndrome (Warren 1946, Scully 1956). The finding of pulmonary fat emboli is of doubtful significance in cases where the clinical features of the syndrome are absent.