Distribution of skin petechiae in fat embolism rash.
When patients in whom a fat embolism rash developed were nursed on their left side fresh petechiae appeared on the right side and vice versa. The appearance of petechiae on the least dependent site is consistent with the skimming off of floating fat emboli in the blood and their selective distribution by the branches arising from the top of the aortic arch.
D000293:Adolescent; D001830:Body Surface Area; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply