FAT-EMBOLISM SYNDROME IN A PATIENT DEMONSTRATING ONLY NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a recognized complication of both long bone fractures and intramedullary orthopedic procedures. The usual pre senting features are respiratory failure, neurologic dysfunction and p etechiae. In this report, a 25-year-old woman with FES presented with serious neurologic symptoms and signs in the absence of respiratory dy sfunction. The diagnosis is essentially a clinical one, but nuclear ma gnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed distinctive lesions tha t may help future diagnosis of FES.