Cerebral and pulmonary fat embolism after unilateral total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Fat embolism syndrome is the presence of a fatty embolus in the circulatory system that can manifest itself in multiple ways, ranging from asymptomatic presentation to respiratory failure, neurocognitive deficits, and death. It is a relatively common complication after procedures or conditions such as orthopaedic surgery, severe burns, liver injury, closed-chest cardiac massage, and liposuction. This pathology is relatively common in the field of orthopaedics, especially in long bone fractures and procedures such as total hip replacements. It is typically an exclusion diagnosis, and the management is supportive care. In this report, we present a case of a 63-year-old patient who, during a cemented total knee replacement, presented with fat embolism syndrome with neurological and pulmonary manifestations, and subsequently made a complete recovery at discharge.