Fat embolism syndrome is a rare complication occurring in 0.5 to 2% of patients following a long bone fracture. It is believed to be caused by the toxic effects of free fatty acids. Diagnosis is clinical, based on respiratory, cerebral and dermal manifestations. Treatment is only supportive, directed mainly at maintaining respiratory functions.

Traumatic fat embolism syndrome occurs most often following fractures of long bones sustained in road traffic accidents and is a common cause of medical consultation from the orthopedic surgery department. The sub-clinical presentation is subtle and expresses itself by the presence of hypoxemia, while the full clinical syndrome compromises respiratory insufficiency, an altered consciousness and...

The authors report a paradoxical presentation of fat embolism after uncemented total hip arthroplasty. The patient presented vertigo and diplopia after surgery. Cerebral fat embolism was diagnosed by MRI. A patent foramen ovale was responsible for the venous to arterial circulation shunt. Treatment was conservative. Spontaneous and complete recovery occurred.

Cerebral fat embolism is an uncommon but serious complication of long-bone fracture. Nonetheless, recognition of this uncommon complication remains difficult. Here we present two cases of cerebral fat embolism syndrome (CFES) and describe a possible association between CFES and high lactate levels.

Recovery of an injured patient depends on several factors, among them, the severity of the injury itself, the primary treatment, and the management of posttrauma complications. Fifty years ago, the severely injured patient died of shock or sepsis; thirty years ago, he died of shock or renal failure. Today, if death is not immediate due to hopeless damage. effective resuscitation from the initia...

A 49-year-old man with a history of prostate cancer metastatic to bone suffered a pathological fracture to the left femur while hospitalized (Figure 1A). Eighteen hours after the fracture, he developed hypoxemia and hypotension followed by confusion and a petechial rash in the left axilla. Chest X-ray obtained after intubation demonstrated new diffuse bilateral patchy infiltrates (Figure 1B). U...

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...

BACKGROUND: Fat embolism syndrome is caused by the release of fat globules into the systemic circulation. The presentation varies from mild respiratory distress to a devastating clinical scenario that includes hypoxemia, petechial hemorrhages of the skin, and confusion that may lead to coma or death.It is prevalent in 1-5% of patients after trauma to the pelvis, long bones and rarely described ...

Liposuction for esthetic purposes aims to remove fat in healthy patients and reduce localized fat accumulation, called lipodystrophy, in order to improve body contour. In the last 3 decades, the liposuction technique has improved dramatically. However, like any other surgical procedure, it is not without complications. Here, we reviewed the literature on PubMed to identify complications after c...