Fat embolism syndrome in a patient demonstrating only neurologic symptoms.
Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a recognized complication of both long bone fractures and intramedullary orthopedic procedures. The usual presenting features are respiratory failure, neurologic dysfunction and petechiae. In this report, a 25-year-old woman with FES presented with serious neurologic symptoms and signs in the absence of respiratory dysfunction. The diagnosis is essentially a clinical one, but nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed distinctive lesions that may help future diagnosis of FES.
Bardana
D
D
Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Kingston General Hospital, Ont.
Rudan
J
J
Cervenko
F
F
Smith
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003128:Coma; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013577:Syndrome