Fat Embolism Syndrome after Lower Extremity Fracture

Yıl 2016, Cilt: 7 Sayı: 4, 64 - 66, 01.10.2016

Mustafa Burak Sayhan Ömer Salt Mert Özcan Volkan Mumcu Burcu Filizay

Öz

Introduction: Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a potentially lethal complication of long bone fractures and is commonly seen after femur fractures. The clinical manifestations of FES are as follows: petechiae, pulmonary dysfunction, mental status changes, tachycardia, fever, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. FES can result in multiorgan dysfunction such as that of the brain, skin, and lungs. In this case report, we present a rare case of FES after traumatic fracture of the tibia and fibula.Case Report: A 32-year-old male patient was admitted to our emergency department 18 h after a traffic accident. He was previously healthy and had no medical history. At initial examination, a right shoulder fracture and dislocation and left tibia and fibula open fractures were detected. Almost 2 h after admission, he started to complain of difficulty in breathing. At the same time, petechiae appeared on his chest wall. With these clinical features, FES was diagnosed.Conclusion: With the presentation of this case report, we aim to improve the awareness and knowledge of Emergency Physicians regarding FES, such that they might keep in mind the diagnosis of FES in patients admitted to emergency departments with a long bone fracture and respiratory impairment

Anahtar Kelimeler

Emergency department, fat embolism, trauma

Kaynakça

• Akoh CC, Schick C, Otero J, Karam M. Fat embolism syndrome after fe- mur fracture fixation: a case report. Iowa Orthop J 2014; 34: 55-62.
• Kwiatt ME, Seamon MJ. Fat embolism syndrome. Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci 2013; 31: 64-8. [CrossRef]
• Scuderi CS. The present status of fat embolism. Bibliographic review. Int Surg Digest 1934; 18: 195-215
• Sara S, Kenyhertz G, Herbert T, Lundeen GA. Fat emboli syndrome in a nondisplaced tibia fracture. J Orthop Trauma 2011; 25: e27-9. [CrossRef]
• Kallina C, Probe RA: Paradoxical fat embolism after intramedullary rod- ding. J Orthop Trauma 2001; 15: 442-5. [CrossRef]
• Schonfeld SA, Ploysongsang Y, DiLisio R, Crissman JD, Miller E, Ham- merschmidt DE, et al. Fat embolism prophylaxis with corticosteroid: A prospective study in high-risk patients. Ann Int Med 1983; 99: 438-43. [CrossRef]
• Gurd, AR. Wilson RI. The Fat Embolism Syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1974; 56B: 408-16.
• Georgopoulos D, Bouros D: Fat embolism syndrome: clinical examina- tion is still the preferable diagnostic method. Chest 2003; 123: 982-3. [CrossRef]
• Kosova E, Bergmark B, Piazza G. Fat Embolism Syndrome. Circulation. 2015; 131: 317-20. [CrossRef]
• Eriksson EA, Pellegrini DC, Vanderkolk WE, Minshall CT, Fakhry SM, Cohle SD. Incidence of pulmonary fat embolism at autopsy: an undiagnosed epidemic. J Trauma 2011; 71: 312-5. [CrossRef]