Fat embolism occurs in the vast majority of patients who have had trauma (approximately 90%). The most common occurrence is after long bone fracture. It has also been noted in cases after orthopedic surgery. Fat embolism is most often diagnosed when the clinical manifestations of fat embolism syndrome become apparent. Reported cases of fat emboli in transit are unusual. In our case, we present ...

Fat embolism occurs after long bone fracture or orthopedic surgery and usually shows mild symptom. But it rarely results in fat embolism syndrome, presenting as multiorgan dysfunction such as lung, brain and skin. Although the diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome is mostly based on clinical features, we experienced fat embolism syndrome involving lung and brain, showing typical imaging findings i...

The subject of fat embolism is of recurring interest to those managing trauma. This article covers the topic of fat embolism in general, and presents a case of fulminant fat embolism syndrome which highlights the importance of clinical expertise, and whatever technological aids are available to diagnose and appropriately treat this relatively rare, but highly significant form of the syndrome. F...

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) has been recognized for more than 100 years, but controversy remains with regard to the mechanism of systemic fat embolism. We report a case of healthy 30-years-old men who developed respiratory failure and brain death within 48 h of bilateral tibial fractures. Autopsy showed fat embolism in the lung and brain, and a large patent oval foramen that may have contribute...

OBJECTIVE To review the pathophysiology and management of patients with clinical manifestations of fat embolism. DATA SOURCES A review of studies reported from 1976 to 1998 and identified through a MEDLINE search of the literature on fat embolism and fat embolism syndrome. SUMMARY OF REVIEW Fat embolism occurs when bony or soft tissue trauma has caused fat to enter the circulation, or in at...

Four cases of fat embolism are described in infants receiving prolonged intravenous infusion of fat (Intralipid 20%). This therapeutic complication has been termed 'fat overloading syndrome' but bears a clinical similarity to post-traumatic fat embolism. These 4 cases are the first to be recorded in infancy, and with histopathological proof of fat embolism. These 4 cases are the first to be rec...

Nelson, C. S. (1974). Thorax, 29, 134-137. Cardiac and pulmonary fat embolectomy for suspected fat embolus. There is no specific treatment of fat embolism, whether the embolism is predominantly cerebral, pulmonary, renal or mesenteric. A 46-year-old man had fractured his right femur for the third time in December 1971. Seventy hours later he suddenly developed the cardiovascular, respiratory, a...

Nearly all long-bone fractures are accompanied by some form of fat embolism. The rare complication of clinically significant fat embolism syndrome, however, occurs in only 0.9-2.2% of cases. The clinical triad of fat embolism syndrome consists of respiratory distress, altered mental status, and petechial rash. Cerebral fat embolism causes the neurologic involvement seen in fat embolism syndrome...