Abstract
Fat embolism syndrome presenting primarily with cerebral manifestations is rarely reported. We report here two such patients who showed complete recovery following initial deterioration. The aim of these reports is to highlight that prolonged intensive care and good rehabilitation can lead to normal neurologic recovery despite poor clinical picture initially. The importance of adequate oxygenation to prevent secondary brain damage is emphasized during prolonged recovery.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bhaskaran CS. Bone marrow embolism in traumatic death. Pathol Microbiol (Basel) 1969;34:105–11.
Bulger EM, Smith DG, Maier RV, Jurkovich GJ. Fat embolism syndrome. A 10-year review. Arch Surg 1997;132:435–9.
Stein PD, Yaekoub AY, Matta F, Kleerekoper M. Fat embolism syndrome. Am J Med Sci 2008;336:472–7.
Ten Duis HJ. The fat embolism syndrome. Injury 1997;28:77–85.
Meyer N, Pennington WT, Dewitt D, Schmeling GJ. Isolated cerebral fat emboli syndrome in multiply injured patients: A review of three cases and the literature. J Trauma 2007;63:1395–402.
Gregorakos L, Sakayianni K, Hroni D, Harizopoulou V, Markou N, Georgiadou F, et al. Prolonged coma due to cerebral fat embolism: Report of two cases. J Accid Emerg Med 2000;17:144–6.
Jennett B, Bond M. Assessment of outcome after severe brain damage. Lancet 1975;1:480–4.
Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. “Mini-mental state”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 1975;12:189–98.
Gurd AR, Wilson RI. The fat embolism syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1974;56B:408–16.
Gupta B, Kaur M, D’souza N, Dey CK, Shende S, Kumar A, et al. Cerebral fat embolism: A diagnostic challenge. Saudi J Anaesth 2011;5:348–52.
Jacobson DM, Terrence CF, Reinmuth OM. The neurologic manifestations of fat embolism. Neurology 1986;36:847–51.
Yildiz OK, Delice A, Oztoprak I, Gurelik M, Yildirim A, Bolayir E, et al. Cerebral fat embolism in the absence of systemic manifestations of fat embolism syndrome. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Neurology 2010;5:19–23.
Butteriss DJ, Mahad D, Soh C, Walls T, Weir D, Birchall D. Reversible cytotoxic cerebral edema in cerebral fat embolism. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2006;27:620–3.
Pfeffer G, Heran MK. Restricted diffusion and poor clinical outcome in cerebral fat embolism syndrome. Can J Neurol Sei 2010;37:128–30.
Mueller F, Pfeifer C, Kinner B, EnglertC, Nerlich M, Neumann C. Posttraumatic fulminant paradoxical fat embolism syndrome in conjunction with asymptomatic atrial septal defect: A case report and review of the literature. J Med Case Rep 2011;5:142.
Buskens CJ, Gratama JW, Hogervorst M, van Leeuwen RB, Rommes JH, Spronk PE. Encephalopathy and MRI abnormalities in fat embolism syndrome: A case report. Med Sci Monit 2008;14:CS125–9.
Leiva Salinas C, Poyatos Ruipérez C, Gonzalez Masegosa A, Ferrer Casanova JM. Diffusion-weighted MRI in early diagnosis of cerebral fat embolism syndrome. Neurologia 2008;23:188–91.
Kim KC, Hwang DS, Shin HD. Posttraumatic cerebral fat embolism prior to operative repair of femoral and tibial fractures. Orthopedics 2008;31:170.
Parizel PM, Demey HE, Veeckmans G, Verstreken F, Cras P, Jorens PG, et al. Early diagnosis of cerebral fat embolism syndrome by diffusion-weighted MRI (starfield pattern). Stroke 2001;32:2942–4.
Manousakis G, Han DY, Backonja M. Cognitive outcome of cerebral fat embolism. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2012;21:906.e1-3.
Metting Z, Rödiger LA, Regtien JG, van der Naalt J. Delayed coma in head injury: Consider cerebral fat embolism. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2009; 111:597–600.
Shaikh N. Emergency management of fat embolism syndrome. J Emerg Trauma Shock 2009;2:29–33.
Dongfeng C, Jian P, Xuejun F. Early diagnosis and prognosis in cerebral fat embolism syndrome. China J Mod Med 2004;14:95–7.
Gray AC, Torrens L, White TO, Carson A, Robinson CM. The cognitive effects of fat embolus syndrome following an isolated femoral shaft fracture. A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2007;89:1092–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Srikanth, K.P., Sundararajan, S.R. & Rajasekaran, S. Late recovery in cerebral fat embolism. IJOO 48, 100–103 (2014). https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5413.125527
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5413.125527