Isolated and early-onset cerebral fat embolism syndrome in a multiply injured patient: a rare case.

BACKGROUND: Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare complication that can occur between 12 and 72 h after the initial insult. Isolated cerebral FES without pulmonary symptoms is rarer. Early fracture fixation might prevent FES. We report a case of multiple-fracture with FES despite definite fixation three hours post-injury. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old man presented with multiple fractures: left femoral shaft (AO B2), left distal radius (AO C3), left comminuted patella, right comminuted 1st metatarsal base and left 2nd-4th metatarsal neck. Because he was stable, we gave him early total care and definite fixation, which required seven hours and yielded no complications. After he recovered from anesthesia, however, his eyes deviated right, his right upper arm was paralyzed, his consciousness level was poor, and his Glasgow Coma Scale score was E3VeM4. Chest X-rays showed clear lung fields, and brain computed tomography showed no intracranial hemorrhage. He did, however, have tachycardia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Brain magnetic resonance images showed a hyperintensive starfield pattern on diffuse weighted images, which suggested cerebral FES. After supportive care, his consciousness cleared on postoperative day 17, and he recovered full right upper arm muscle power after four months; however, he had a significant cognitive deficit. One-year post-injury, after regular rehabilitation therapy, he was able to independently perform his activities of daily living but still had a residual mild cognitive deficit. CONCLUSION: Early fixation can attenuate but not eliminate the incidence of FES. Early assessment and rehabilitation therapy might be required for patients with cerebral FES and cognitive deficits; however, such deficits are difficult to predict and need long-term follow-ups.

A case report of fat embolism syndrome: Treatment and neurological and cognitive rehabilitation / Un caso de síndrome de embolia grasa: tratamiento y rehabilitación neurológica y cognitiva.

Se reporta el proceso de recuperación y rehabilitación neurológica y cognitiva de una mujer joven que desarrolló un síndrome de embolia grasa con repercusiones neurológicas, después de sufrir un politraumatismo. La paciente era una mujer de 21 años de edad con fractura cerrada de húmero y fémur izquierdos, que presentó un síndrome de embolia grasa, neumotórax izquierdo e hipertensión pulmonar, en las primeras 24 horas después de un accidente. Estuvo hospitalizada un mes y quedó con varios déficits neurológicos centrales, como infartos 'lacunares' y necrosis cortical laminar occipital, así como limitaciones en la bipedestación, la marcha, la visión y las funciones cognitivas. A partir del primer mes después del alta hospitalaria, se comenzó un proceso integral de rehabilitación neurológica y cognitiva en casa, y posteriormente, en una unidad médica de rehabilitación. Durante los primeros dos años después del accidente, la paciente recibió estimulación sensorial, sensoperceptiva y motora, así como rehabilitación motora y visual intensiva. Una vez se recuperó físicamente, se inició un proceso de rehabilitación neuropsicológica. Seis años después del accidente, la paciente terminó sus estudios universitarios y hoy está laboralmente activa. El proceso de rehabilitación neurológica es complejo, individual y difícil, aunque no imposible, y no se puede estandarizar un patrón de recuperación para todos los pacientes. Si bien existe la recuperación espontánea, la cual se da en los primeros seis meses, el caso aquí reportado demuestra que, en la fase crónica, la recuperación se puede lograr, pero requiere de evaluaciones y técnicas coordinadas de rehabilitación neurológica.

We report the neurological and cognitive recovery and rehabilitation process in a young woman who developed a fat embolism syndrome with neurological repercussions secondary to multiple trauma. The patient was a 21-year-old woman with a closed fracture of the left humerus and femur. She developed fat embolism syndrome, left pneumothorax and pulmonary hypertension in the first 24 hours after the accident. After one month of hospitalization, the patient had several central neurological deficits such as lacunar infarcts and occipital laminar cortical necrosis, as well as limitations in standing, walking, vision, and cognitive functions. An integral process of neurological and cognitive rehabilitation--first at home and later in a medical rehabilitation unit-- was carried out from the first month after being released from the hospital. During the first two years after the accident, the patient received sensory and motor stimulation, motor rehabilitation, and intensive visual rehabilitation. Once recovered physically, a process of neuropsychological rehabilitation began. Six years after the accident, the patient finished her university studies and she is working actively. The neurological rehabilitation process is complex, individual and difficult, but not impossible, and a recovery pattern cannot be standardized for all patients. Although there is spontaneous recovery, which occurs in the first six months, the case here reported shows that in the chronic phase recovery can be achieved but requires evaluations and coordinated techniques of neurological rehabilitation.

Un caso de síndrome de embolia grasa: tratamiento y rehabilitación neurológica y cognitiva / A case report off at embolism syndrome: Treatment and neurological and cognitive rehabilitation

Resumen Se reporta el proceso de recuperación y rehabilitación neurológica y cognitiva de una mujer joven que desarrolló un síndrome de embolia grasa con repercusiones neurológicas, después de sufrir un politraumatismo. La paciente era una mujer de 21 años de edad con fractura cerrada de húmero y fémur izquierdos, que presentó un síndrome de embolia grasa, neumotórax izquierdo e hipertensión pulmonar, en las primeras 24 horas después de un accidente. Estuvo hospitalizada un mes y quedó con varios déficits neurológicos centrales, como infartos 'lacunares' y necrosis cortical laminar occipital, así como limitaciones en la bipedestación, la marcha, la visión y las funciones cognitivas. A partir del primer mes después del alta hospitalaria, se comenzó un proceso integral de rehabilitación neurológica y cognitiva en casa, y posteriormente, en una unidad médica de rehabilitación. Durante los primeros dos años después del accidente, la paciente recibió estimulación sensorial, sensoperceptiva y motora, así como rehabilitación motora y visual intensiva. Una vez se recuperó físicamente, se inició un proceso de rehabilitación neuropsicológica. Seis años después del accidente, la paciente terminó sus estudios universitarios y hoy está laboralmente activa. El proceso de rehabilitación neurológica es complejo, individual y difícil, aunque no imposible, y no se puede estandarizar un patrón de recuperación para todos los pacientes. Si bien existe la recuperación espontánea, la cual se da en los primeros seis meses, el caso aquí reportado demuestra que, en la fase crónica, la recuperación se puede lograr, pero requiere de evaluaciones y técnicas coordinadas de rehabilitación neurológica.

Abstract We report the neurological and cognitive recovery and rehabilitation process in a young woman who developed a fat embolism syndrome with neurological repercussions secondary to multiple trauma. The patient was a 21-year-old woman with a closed fracture of the left humerus and femur. She developed fat embolism syndrome, left pneumothorax and pulmonary hypertension in the first 24 hours after the accident. After one month of hospitalization, the patient had several central neurological deficits such as lacunar infarcts and occipital laminar cortical necrosis, as well as limitations in standing, walking, vision, and cognitive functions. An integral process of neurological and cognitive rehabilitation--first at home and later in a medical rehabilitation unit-- was carried out from the first month after being released from the hospital. During the first two years after the accident, the patient received sensory and motor stimulation, motor rehabilitation, and intensive visual rehabilitation. Once recovered physically, a process of neuropsychological rehabilitation began. Six years after the accident, the patient finished her university studies and she is working actively. The neurological rehabilitation process is complex, individual and difficult, but not impossible, and a recovery pattern cannot be standardized for all patients. Although there is spontaneous recovery, which occurs in the first six months, the case here reported shows that in the chronic phase recovery can be achieved but requires evaluations and coordinated techniques of neurological rehabilitation.