TITLE:
Cerebral Fat Embolism Syndrome from Penetrating Trauma: A Rare Cause-and-Effect
AUTHORS:
Stephen J. Gleich, James D. Hannon
KEYWORDS:
Penetrating Trauma; Cerebral Fat Embolism Syndrome
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Anesthesiology,
Vol.3 No.4,
June
4,
2013
ABSTRACT: A 42 year-old male
sustained an accidental rifle gunshot wound to his left foot, resulting in
fracture deformities of the calcaneus, navicular, cuneiform, 1st and
2nd metatarsal bases, and talus. As he was transported to our trauma
center, he developed progressive encephalopathy. Urgent external fixator
placement under general anesthesia was postponed due to his encephalopathy of
unknown etiology. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a “starfield”
pattern of infarcts, consistent with cerebral fat embolism syndrome. Subsequently,
he underwent uneventful general anesthesia. The patient was managed
supportively and continued to have persistent neurologic dysfunction two months
after injury.