[Neurological manifestations of fat embolism syndrome]

Fat embolism is a frequent complication of long bone trauma. Although neurological signs are key elements in the diagnosis of this syndrome, little attention to them has been paid in the spanish literature. We present a retrospective study of 13 patients with fat embolism syndrome in which we focused on neurological manifestations and alterations in computerized tomography (CT) of the head. The most frequent symptom was impairment of consciousness of varying degrees. Three patients out of the 13 also presented focal signs (hemiparesis and partial seizures). CT revealed edema (4/7) and multiple low density foci (1/7). All but one patient recovered without sequelae. Our study does not allow us to establish either the physiopathology of fat embolism syndrome or the most effective treatment.