Fat Embolism in Patients with Multiple Injuries

Author summary

Of 459 patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) from 1975 – 1978, 211 patients with multiple injuries and fractures of the long bones and pelvis / spine were treated emergently using internal fixation in a primary stage. The main outcome of interest was clinical fat embolism syndrome (grade III), a severe and potentially life-threatening condition that is common following long-bone and pelvic fractures. Early operative fixation resulted in a low rate of grade III fat embolism and, therefore, may effectively prevent subsequent morbidity and mortality in this patient population.