Pulmonary emboli 5 days postinjury presenting as fever of unknown origin

A patient who fell on his right leg from a scaffold presented with fever of unknown etiology. Complete workup to rule out infectious causes for his fever was nonrevealing. Because of a history of transient episodes of dyspnea, lung scan was performed which was compatible with pulmonary emboli. Response to heparin therapy was dramatic. Thus, in patients with history of trauma and are bedridden for a long period of time who present with fever one should have a high index of suspicion for pulmonary emboli.