Snapshot A 60-year-old man presents to the emergency room after a motor vehicle accident. He is found to have a femur fracture on the right. He is admitted into the hospital to correct the fracture and observation. Two days after hospitalization, he develops sudden shortness of breath, followed by confusion, which is far from baseline according to his family. A petechial rash is noted on his chest. Introduction Fat embolism syndrome results from fat emboli often associated with long bone fractures Occurs around 1-3 days after instigating event Pathogenesis – not completely elucidated login to view 2 more bullets Associated conditions/risk factors login to view 5 more bullets Classic triad login to view 3 more bullets Presentation Symptoms login to view 10 more bullets Evaluation Diagnosis by clinical history and exam Biopsy if clinical diagnosis is unclear Differential Diagnosis ARDS Acute lung injury Treatment Supportive care Corticosteroids may be beneficial in life-threatening cases login to view 1 more bullet Prognosis, Prevention, and Complications Prognosis login to view 1 more bullet