Fat Embolism Differential Diagnoses

1. Rothberg DL, Makarewich CA. Fat Embolism and Fat Embolism Syndrome. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Apr 15. 27 (8):e346-e355. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

2. Fulde GW, Harrison P. Fat embolism--a review. Arch Emerg Med. 1991 Dec. 8(4):233-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

3. Mellor A, Soni N. Fat embolism. Anaesthesia. 2001 Feb. 56(2):145-54. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. Allardyce DB, Meek RN, Woodruff B, Cassim MM, Ellis D. Increasing our knowledge of the pathogenesis of fat embolism: a prospective study of 43 patients with fractured femoral shafts. J Trauma. 1974 Nov. 14(11):955-62. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Meyer N, Pennington WT, Dewitt D, Schmeling GJ. Isolated cerebral fat emboli syndrome in multiply injured patients: a review of three cases and the literature. J Trauma. 2007 Dec. 63(6):1395-402. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

6. Schnaid E, Lamprey JM, Viljoen MJ, Joffe BI, Seftel HC. The early biochemical and hormonal profile of patients with long bone fractures at risk of fat embolism syndrome. J Trauma. 1987 Mar. 27(3):309-11. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

7. Fabian TC, Hoots AV, Stanford DS, Patterson CR, Mangiante EC. Fat embolism syndrome: prospective evaluation in 92 fracture patients. Crit Care Med. 1990 Jan. 18(1):42-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

8. Broe PJ, Toung TJ, Margolis S, Permutt S, Cameron JL. Pulmonary injury caused by free fatty acid: evaluation of steroid and albumin therapy. Surgery. 1981 May. 89(5):582-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Habashi NM, Andrews PL, Scalea TM. Therapeutic aspects of fat embolism syndrome. Injury. 2006 Oct. 37 Suppl 4:S68-73. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

10. Kellogg RG, Fontes RB, Lopes DK. Massive cerebral involvement in fat embolism syndrome and intracranial pressure management. J Neurosurg. 2013 Nov. 119(5):1263-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

11. Fabian TC. Unravelling the fat embolism syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 23. 329(13):961-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Eriksson EA, Pellegrini DC, Vanderkolk WE, Minshall CT, Fakhry SM, Cohle SD. Incidence of pulmonary fat embolism at autopsy: an undiagnosed epidemic. J Trauma. 2011 Aug. 71 (2):312-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Godeau B, Schaeffer A, Bachir D, Fleury-Feith J, Galacteros F, Verra F. Bronchoalveolar lavage in adult sickle cell patients with acute chest syndrome: value for diagnostic assessment of fat embolism. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996 May. 153(5):1691-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Shapiro MP, Hayes JA. Fat embolism in sickle cell disease. Report of a case with brief review of the literature. Arch Intern Med. 1984 Jan. 144(1):181-2. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Tsitsikas DA, Gallinella G, Patel S, Seligman H, Greaves P, Amos RJ. Bone marrow necrosis and fat embolism syndrome in sickle cell disease: increased susceptibility of patients with non-SS genotypes and a possible association with human parvovirus B19 infection. Blood Rev. 2014 Jan. 28(1):23-30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Alpert M, Grigorian A, Scolaro J, Learned J, Dolich M, Kuza CM, et al. Fat embolism syndrome in blunt trauma patients with extremity fractures. J Orthop. 2020 Sep-Oct. 21:475-480. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

17. Palmovic V, McCarroll JR. Fat embolism in trauma. Arch Pathol. 1965 Dec. 80(6):630-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Lempert M, Halvachizadeh S, Ellanti P, Pfeifer R, Hax J, Jensen KO, et al. Incidence of Fat Embolism Syndrome in Femur Fractures and Its Associated Risk Factors over Time-A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2021 Jun 21. 10 (12):[QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

19. Gurd AR, Wilson RI. The fat embolism syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1974 Aug. 56B(3):408-16. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

20. Metting Z, Rödiger LA, Regtien JG, van der Naalt J. Delayed coma in head injury: consider cerebral fat embolism. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2009 Sep. 111(7):597-600. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Newbigin K, Souza CA, Torres C, Marchiori E, Gupta A, Inacio J, et al. Fat embolism syndrome: State-of-the-art review focused on pulmonary imaging findings. Respir Med. 2016 Apr. 113:93-100. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Gallardo X, Castañer E, Mata JM, Rimola J, Branera J. Nodular pattern at lung computed tomography in fat embolism syndrome: a helpful finding. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2006 Mar-Apr. 30 (2):254-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

23. Newbigin K, Souza CA, Armstrong M, Pena E, Inacio J, Gupta A, et al. Fat embolism syndrome: Do the CT findings correlate with clinical course and severity of symptoms? A clinical-radiological study. Eur J Radiol. 2016 Feb. 85 (2):422-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

24. Forteza AM, Koch S, Romano JG, et al. Transcranial doppler detection of fat emboli. Stroke. 1999 Dec. 30(12):2687-91. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

25. Stoeger A, Daniaux M, Felber S, Stockhammer G, Aichner F, zur Nedden D. MRI findings in cerebral fat embolism. Eur Radiol. 1998. 8(9):1590-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

26. Vedrinne JM, Guillaume C, Gagnieu MC, Gratadour P, Fleuret C, Motin J. Bronchoalveolar lavage in trauma patients for diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome. Chest. 1992 Nov. 102(5):1323-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

27. Mimoz O, Edouard A, Beydon L, Quillard J, Verra F, Fleury J. Contribution of bronchoalveolar lavage to the diagnosis of posttraumatic pulmonary fat embolism. Intensive Care Med. 1995 Dec. 21(12):973-80. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

28. Shier MR, Wilson RF, James RE, Riddle J, Mammen EF, Pedersen HE. Fat embolism prophylaxis: a study of four treatment modalities. J Trauma. 1977 Aug. 17(8):621-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

29. Wong MW, Tsui HF, Yung SH, Chan KM, Cheng JC. Continuous pulse oximeter monitoring for inapparent hypoxemia after long bone fractures. J Trauma. 2004 Feb. 56(2):356-62. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

30. Blokhuis TJ, Pape HC, Frölke JP. Timing of definitive fixation of major long bone fractures: Can fat embolism syndrome be prevented?. Injury. 2017 Jun. 48 Suppl 1:S3-S6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

31. Alho A, Saikku K, Eerola P, Koskinen M, Hämäläinen M. Corticosteroids in patients with a high risk of fat embolism syndrome. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1978 Sep. 147(3):358-62. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

32. Byrick RJ, Mullen JB, Wong PY, Wigglesworth D, Kay JC. Corticosteroids do not inhibit acute pulmonary response to fat embolism. Can J Anaesth. 1990 May. 37(4 Pt 2):S130. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

33. Bederman SS, Bhandari M, McKee MD, Schemitsch EH. Do corticosteroids reduce the risk of fat embolism syndrome in patients with long-bone fractures? A meta-analysis. Can J Surg. 2009 Oct. 52(5):386-93. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

34. White T, Petrisor BA, Bhandari M. Prevention of fat embolism syndrome. Injury. 2006 Oct. 37 Suppl 4:S59-67. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Constantine S Bulauitan, MD Clinical Instructor of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care/Trauma, Division of Acute Care Surgery and Trauma, Jersey Shore University Hospital

Constantine S Bulauitan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, Philippine Medical Association of America, Society of Critical Care Medicine, World Surgical Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rajan Gupta, MD, FACS, FCCP Associate Professor of Surgery, Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Rajan Gupta, MD, FACS, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, New Hampshire Medical Society, Shock Society, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Western Trauma Association, International Society of Surgery, International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care, New England Surgical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Vincent Lopez Rowe, MD, FACS Professor and Chief, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Gonda (Goldschmied) Vascular Center, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Vincent Lopez Rowe, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, American Surgical Association, Pacific Coast Surgical Association, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, Society for Vascular Surgery, Society of Black Academic Surgeons, Society of Black Vascular Surgeons, Southern California Vascular Surgical Society, Western Vascular Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lisa Kirkland, MD, FACP, CNSP, MSHA Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Mayo Clinic; ANW Intensivists, Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Lisa Kirkland, MD, FACP, CNSP, MSHA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Society of Hospital Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

• Print this section
• Print the entire contents of
• Print the entire contents of article