Clinical Study of Fat Embolism / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

The following results have been obtained through the study of four cases of fat embolism which usually follows after long bone fracture, especially femur fracture at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Taegu Presbyterian Hospital 1. By age group, two cases were under10 years old and two cases were between 30 and 40 years old. 2. By cause of accident, three cases were caused by traffic accident and one case was caused by fall. Femur fracture was found in all cases on top of other fractures in some cases. 3. By clinical symptom, clinical symptoms occured in all cases within 48 hours after trauma and laboratory data indicated changes according to thier symptoms and signs. 4. Petechiae and coma were found in all cases but there was no fat globule found in urine, sputum, frozen section of the clotted blood and biopsy of petechiae. 5. Three cases were completely recovered from illness with the treatment of oxygen, heparin, cordicosteroid and rheomacrodex but one case expired after 8 hours of trauma.