Fat embolism is common during orthopaedic surgery. In around 1% of long-bone #s it results in signs and symptoms (Fat Embolism Syndrome) which vary from mild hypoxaemia or confusion to rapidly fatal multi-system failure. Clinical signs appear 4 - 72hrs after the initial fat emboli - the delay is due to neutral fat emboli being hydrolised to more reactive FFAs.
The most widely-accepted diagnostic criteria were proposed by Gurd and Wilson (RVH Belfast) followng a detailed review of 100 cases in the early 1970s .
