Post traumatic fat embolism: The experience of Ibn Tofail hospital, Marrakech

Abstract

The post traumatic fat embolism (FE) is a group of pulmonary and systemic manifestations secondary to the obstruction of small vessels by fatty particles in a traumatic context following bone fractures. Our work is a retrospective descriptive study conducted in the intensive care unit of Ibn Tofail Hospital in Marrakech during a period from February 2019 to January 2020. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary profiles related to post-traumatic fat embolism. The diagnosis was based on the Gurd criteria. we collected 9 cases which are characterized by the predominance of young male, a femur fracture and a delay between the trauma and the onset of symptoms greater than 72 hours. The clinical and biological profile was dominated by hypoxemia, ARDS, confusion, anaemia and thrombocytopenia. The management remains symptomatic after the surgical fixation and may require a mechanical ventilation. The outcome of our patients was favorable when FE was isolated. Our study confirms that the post traumatic fat embolism is a serious complication with pulmonary and neurological damage that can worsen patient’s prognosis especially with associated trauma injuries, hence the importance of prevention.