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