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Case Reports
. 2021 Nov 25;17(2):283-285.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.10.060. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Cerebral fat embolism syndrome after long bone fracture: A case report

Mariam Kassimi  1 , Omar Amriss  2 , Hind Guerroum  1 , Jihane Habi  1 , Zakaria Salimi  3 , Mohamed Mahi  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cerebral fat embolism syndrome after long bone fracture: A case report

Mariam Kassimi et al. Radiol Case Rep. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Cerebral fat embolism is a rare and potentially fatal condition that may occur following a long bone fracture. Its characterized by respiratory, neurological, and mucocutaneous signs. Isolated severe brain syndrome remains exceptional. We report a 21-year-old male patient admitted for the cerebral manifestation of a fat embolism syndrome due to a fracture of long bone after a traffic accident injury. Neurological deterioration after a free interval was seen with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. MRI of the brain was indicated which showed numerous multifocal hyperintensities involving the deep white matter of both hemispheres producing a "starfield" appearance. This pattern of cytotoxic cerebral edema, with lesions in the white matter rather than the grey matter, is indicative of the subacute stage of fat embolism. The patient was treated with comprehensive support in the intensive care unit, he returned to normal neurological function and was discharged after 3 weeks of hospitalization.

Keywords: Cerebral fat embolism; MRI; long bone fracture.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
X-ray showed multi fragmented right femur fracture
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Axial FLAIR (A) magnetic resonance imaging sequence shows the presence of numerous multifocal hyperintensities involving the deep white matter of both hemispheres (arrow), which correspond to multiple tiny foci of diffusion restrictions on DWI (B) with low signal on ADC map (C). These findings realize the “starfield” pattern suggestive of cerebral fat embolism syndrome. In the same patient, the T2* GRE (D) sequences appear relatively normal
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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