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Case Reports
. 1986 Jul;11(7):495-7.
doi: 10.1097/00003072-198607000-00008.

Fat embolism syndrome

A G Williams Jr, F A Mettler Jr, J H Christie, R E Gordon
Case Reports

Fat embolism syndrome

A G Williams Jr et al. Clin Nucl Med. 1986 Jul.

Abstract

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.

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