Open AccessAdding Insult to Injury: Asymptomatic Fat Embolism Identified on Computed Tomography
Author(s) -
Malia J. Moore,
Sophia Y. Liu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2474-252X
DOI - 10.5811/cpcem.2019.2.41888
Subject(s) - medicine , fat embolism , asymptomatic , emergency department , computed tomography , presentation (obstetrics) , complication , surgery , case presentation , radiology , psychiatry
Fat embolism (FE) is a classically taught complication of long bone fractures, with the potential to cause high morbidity and mortality; however, it is rarely apparent on emergency department (ED) presentation or imaging. If recognized by the ED clinician, development of symptoms of FE may be avoided by early surgical fixation and potentially by corticosteroid administration.