Fat embolism syndrome: incidence, significance and early features

During the period 1968 to 1978 a total of 447 patients were treated in the Royal Newcastle Hospital for acute respiratory failure after injury. In 321 patients respiratory failure occurred after thoracic and/or long bone injury. In only 17 of these could a diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome (FES) as a sole cause of respiratory failure be substantiated when strict diagnostic criteria were applied. In a further 15 patients FES may have coexisted with other causes of respiratory failure. The outstanding features of patients with FES were: (I) all were in the younger age groups; (II) all developed respiratory symptoms within 48 hours of admission to hospital; (III) most had multiple limb fractures; (IV) more than half had been transferred from other hospitals; and (V) three were pregnant and had sustained in comparison with the others, less severe long bone injuries.