• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.107-111
• /
• 2017

The fat embolism syndrome (FES) represents a condition, usually with traumatic etiology, which may pose challenges to diagnosis while its treatment usually requires supportive measures in the intensive care units (ICUs). The clinical criteria, including respiratory and cerebral dysfunction and a petechial rash, along with imaging studies help in diagnosis. Here we present three case reports of young male who developed FES and were admitted to our ICUs after long bones fractures emerging after vehicle crashes and we briefly review FES literature. All patients' treatment was directed towards: 1) the restoration of circulating volume with fresh blood and/or plasma; 2) the correction of acidosis; and 3) immobilization of the affected part. All patients recovered and were released to the orthopedic wards. The incidence of cases of patients with FES admitted in our ICUs records a significant decrease. This may be explained in terms effective infrastructure reforms in Greece which brought about significant improvement in early prevention and management.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.103-106
• /
• 2018

Fat embolism refers to the presence of fat droplets within the peripheral and lung microcirculation with or without clinical sequelae. However, early diagnosis of fat embolism is very difficult because the embolism usually does not show at the computed tomography as a large fat complex within vessels. Forty-eight-year-old male with pedestrian traffic accident ransferred from a local hospital by helicopter to the regional trauma center by two flight surgeons on board. At the rendezvous point, he had suffered with dyspnea without any airway obstruction sign with 90% of oxygen saturation from pulse oximetry with giving 15 L of oxygen by a reserve bag mask. The patient was intubated at the rendezvous point. The secondary survey of the patient revealed multiple pelvic bone fracture with sacrum fracture, right femur shaft fracture and right tibia head fracture. Abdominal computed tomography was performed in 191 minutes after the injury and fat embolism with Hounsfield unit of -86 in his right common iliac vein was identified. Here is a very rare case that mass of fat embolism was shown within common iliac vein detected in computed tomography. Early detection of the fat embolus and early stabilization of the fractures are essential to the prevention of sequelae such as cerebral fat embolism.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제18권2호
• /
• pp.175-178
• /
• 2005

Fat embolism syndrome is a collection of respiratory, neurological and cutaneous symptoms and signs associated with trauma and other disparate surgical and medical conditions. The incidence of clinical syndrome is low while the embolization of marrow fat appears to be an almost inevitable consequence of long bone fractures. The pathogenesis is a subject of conjecture and controversy. There are two theories which have gained acceptance(mechanical theory, biochemical theory). Onset of symptom is usually within 12 to 72 hours, but may manifest as early as 6 hours to as late as 10 days. The classic triad of fat embolism syndrome involves pulmonary changes, cerebral dysfunction and petechial rash. The cornerstone of treatment is preventing the stress response, hypovolemia and hypoxia and operative stabilization of fractures. Corticosteroid are the only drugs which have repeatedly shown a positive effect on the prevention and treatment of fat embolism syndrome. We report a case of post-traumatic fat embolism syndrome with severe cerebral involvement without respiratory distress. A 55 years old female had a traffic accident. She sustained pelvic bone fracture and both humerus fracture. Approximately 4 hours after the accident, mental status change developed without a focal neurologic deficits. She had no respiratory symptom and sign. Her brain MRI showed multiple cerebral fat embolism lesion. The patients received supportive treatment with corticosteroid, albumin. Her neurologic status stabilized over several days. After orthopedic surgery, she was discharged 62 days after admission.