Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Favorable Outcome of Cerebral Fat Embolism Syndrome with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3: a Case Report and Review of the Literature

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Prognosis of deep coma caused by cerebral fat embolism syndrome (CFES) is rarely reported. We present a case of fulminant CFES which was induced by long bone fracture, with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 3/15. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed abnormal spotty lesions scattered over both cerebral hemispheres and the posterior fossa. Thirty days later, the patient regained consciousness with a GCS of 15/15.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Habashi NM, Andrews PL, Scalea TM (2006) Therapeutic aspects of fat embolism syndrome. Injury 37(Suppl 4):S68–73

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Reitboeck PG, Jenkins P, Pereira A, Wren D (2013) Starry nights: coma due to cerebral fat embolism syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 84(11):e2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Eguia P, Medina A, Garcia-Monco JC et al (2007) The value of diffusion-weighted MRI in the diagnosis of cerebral fat embolism. J Neuroimaging 17:78–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bulger EM, Smith DG, Maier RV, Jurkovich GJ (1997) Fat embolism syndrome. A 10-year review. Arch Surg 132(4):435–9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. ten Duis HJ (1997) The fat embolism syndrome. Injury 28(2):77–85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kuo KH, Pan YJ, Lai YJ, Cheung WK, Chang FC, Jarosz J. Dynamic MR imaging patterns of cerebral fat: a systematic review with illustrative cases. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2013 May 2

  7. Sie MY, Toh KW, Rajeev K (2003) Cerebral fat embolism: an indication for ICP monitor? J Trauma 55(6):1185–6

  8. Mellor A, Soni N (2001) Fat embolism. Anaesthesia 56:145–160

  9. Scopa M, Magatti M, Rossitto P (1994) Neurologic symptoms in fat embolism syndrome: case report. J Trauma 36(6):906–8

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kuo-Hua Lin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lin, KY., Wang, KC., Chen, YL. et al. Favorable Outcome of Cerebral Fat Embolism Syndrome with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3: a Case Report and Review of the Literature. Indian J Surg 77 (Suppl 1), 46–48 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-014-1109-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-014-1109-3

Keywords

Navigation