Cerebral fat embolism: A diagnostic challenge

• Main Authors: Babita Gupta, Manpreet Kaur, Nita D′souza, Chandan Kumar Dey, Seema Shende, Atin Kumar, Shivanand Gamangatti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2011-01-01
• Series: Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia
• Subjects: Cerebral fat embolism; fat embolism syndrome; magnetic resonance imaging
• Online Access: http://www.saudija.org/article.asp?issn=1658-354X;year=2011;volume=5;issue=3;spage=348;epage=352;aulast=Gupta

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare but a serious clinical catastrophe occurring after traumatic injury to long bones. Cerebral involvement in the absence of pulmonary or dermatological manifestation on initial presentation may delay the diagnosis of cerebral fat embolism (CFE). We discuss a case series of CFE which posed a challenge in diagnosis. The clinical presentations of these patients did not satisfy the commonly used clinical criteria for aiding the diagnosis of FES. Early MRI brain (DWI and T2 weighted sequences) in patients with neurological symptoms after trauma even in the absence of pulmonary and dermatological findings should be the goal.