Fat embolism syndrome in blunt trauma patients with extremity fractures

This study sought to provide a national, descriptive analysis to determine fat embolism syndrome (FES) risk factors, hypothesizing that femur fractures and multiple fractures are associated with an increased risk.

The Trauma Quality Improvement Program was queried (2010-2016) for patients with extremity fractures. A multivariable logistic regression analysis model was used.

From 324,165 patients, 116 patients (0.04%) were diagnosed with FES. An age ≤30, closed femur fracture, and multiple long bone fractures were associated with an increased risk of FES.

Future research to validate these findings and develop a clinical risk stratification tool appears warranted.