Fat Embolism Syndrome Complicated by Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism after Bilateral Femoral Shaft Fractures: Two Nightmares in The Same Patient

Abstract

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is an uncommon but fatal complication usually in orthopedic trauma especially after a long bone fracture. A high level of suspicion should be kept in mind when a patient of long bone fracture develops hypoxia, confusion or rash in the absence of infection and other causes of respiratory failure. Concomitant FES and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a more rarer entity in comparison to FES and pulmonary thromboembolism as separate entities. There are few cases reported in literature wherein patients developed concomitant FES and pulmonary embolism. Almost in all cases fat embolism syndrome and pulmonary embolism occurred either simultaneously or pulmonary thromboembolism was complicated by FES. We report a case wherein patient initially developed FES pre-operatively which was later on complicated by acute pulmonary thromboembolism in the post-operative period.