title: Fat embolism syndrome in isolated femoral fractures: does timing of nailing influence incidence?
abstract: In a consecutive series of 274 patients with isolated femoral shaft fractures 11 patients (4%) developed fat embolism syndrome. There were no cases of fat embolism syndrome in patients over the age of 35 years. Of the remaining patients, 60 operated on within 10 h of injury did not develop fat embolism. This left 109 patients who had nailing performed more than 10 h after injury of whom eleven (10%) developed fat embolism syndrome (p < 0.027). Patients under the age of 35 years with isolated femoral fractures should have nailing performed as early as possible after injury to minimize fat embolism syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Canada.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pinney
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Meek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors