Fifty-five adults who had sustained a tibial fracture, or a femoral fracture, or both, were subjected to a double-blind randomised study to determine the efficacy of methylprednisolone in treating the fat embolism syndrome. This drug maintained arterial oxygen levels, stabilised or reduced the serum level of free fatty acids, and decreased the risk of the fat embolism syndrome in a statisticall...

BACKGROUND Liposuction has become one of the most frequently performed procedures in the field of aesthetic surgery. Fat embolism syndrome after liposuction can easily be overlooked or underestimated; however, occasionally, fulminating fat embolism syndrome can develop and lead to a critical situation within 2-3 days after lipoplasty. Changes over time in the amount of circulating fat particles...

We describe five patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who presented with acute neurologic and respiratory symptoms following minor trauma. Four of the five deteriorated rapidly and died within 36 h after falling. X-rays for fractures were negative. Four of the five patients were taking corticosteroids daily. All five patients fulfilled the clinical criteria for Fat Embolism Syndrome. Autop...

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...

BACKGROUND Fat embolism syndrome is the result of systemic manifestations of fat emboli in the microcirculation. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a condition that increases the risk of fracture resulting in fat emboli. CASE REPORT We describe a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who exhibited cardiopulmonary, neurologic, and ophthalmologic sequelae consistent with fat emboli syndrome afte...

The initial symptoms are probably caused by mechanical occlusion of multiple blood vessels with fat globules that are too large to pass through the capillaries. The vascular occlusion in fat embolism is often temporary or incomplete, as fat globules do not obstruct capillary blood flow completely because of their fluidity and deformability. The late presentation is thought to be a result of hyd...

The classical syndrome of fat embolism is characterized by the triad of respiratory failure, neurologic dysfunction and the presence of a petechial rash. Fat embolism syndrome (FES) occurs most commonly following orthopedic trauma, particularly fractures of the pelvis or long bones, however non-traumatic fat embolism has also been known to occur on rare occasions. Because no defi nitive consens...

A 40-year-old man who sustained polytrauma presented with comminuted fractures of both right tibia and femur to the emergency room (ER). He had no evidence of head injury and was admitted for surgical fixation. Twelve hours after admission he developed dyspnea and while awaiting surgery his sensorium gradually declined over the next 24 h. Examination revealed a pulse rate of 130 bpm, blood pres...

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