What is fat embolism?
In fractures involving long bones the fat from the marrow can get into the circulation. This is called fat embolism. This develops in the initial few hours to few days. The clinical presentation varies from very minimal symptoms like fever, mild fall in oxygenation of the blood to death in very severe cases. There is no diagnostic test which can positively say that a patient has got fat embolism. The clinical presentation is usually associated with fever, tachycardia( increase in heart rate) , tachypnoea (increase in respiratory rate), fall in oxygenation( shown by pulse oximetry) and development of subconjunctival hemorrhages. The treatment is only supportive with oxygen. In severe cases there may be a need to put the patient on ventilator if he goes into ARDS( Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome).
