Fat embolism syndrome.
The fat embolism syndrome is clinically evident in approximately 0.5-2.0% of patients with long bone fractures. The clinical signs and symptoms are evident in 60% of patients within 24 hours and 85% of patients within 48 hours after trauma. A patient is reported who complained of dyspnea and hemoptysis approximately 72 hours after sustaining a fracture to the distal tibia and fibula. Radionuclide ventilation/perfusion imaging was obtained to rule out pulmonary thromboemboli. Perfusion imaging demonstrated the characteristic diffuse, subsegmental ("mottled") appearance of fatty emboli to the lung.
D000328:Adult; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013577:Syndrome; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio