Risk factors
It is not clear why some patients develop fat embolism while others
don’t. Closed fractures, multiple fractures, conservative treatment for
long bone fractures, reaming of endomedullary cavity, over-enthusiastic
intra-medullary nailing, increased velocity of reaming are predisposing
factors for FES.11
Altered intrinsic metabolic changes predispose patients to FES following
FE, are yet to be defined.
An injury severity score of more than 16, femoral fracture, combination
of extremity and abdominal trauma or abnormal vital signs at admission
are independently risk factors for the development of ARDS (acute
respiratory distress syndrome) due to FES. 11