Journal of Clinical Case Reports

Fat Embolism Syndrome–A Rare Case of Bilateral Embolism of the Central Retinal Artery

Abstract

Margarida Fonseca, Dina Leal, Cristina Freitas, Bruno Gonçalves, Ricardo Alves, Maria Joao Silva, Sandra Guimaraes, José Eduardo Oliveira and Luís Lencastre

Fat embolismsyndrome is a rare complication following a long bone fracture. It is believed to be caused by the toxic effects of free fatty acids and is clinically characterized by the triad of dyspnea, petechiae and mental confusion. Ocular fat embolism syndrome in the complete absence of any cardiac defects is a rare phenomenon which is not commonly encountered in ophthalmic practice. The authors present a case of fat embolism syndrome with the uncommon finding of bilateral embolism of the central retinal artery after a single femoral fracture without evidence of cardiac defect.