Fulminant fat embolism associated with closed fracture reduction.

Fulminant fat embolism is well recognised although uncommon. This case report of a patient developing pulmonary oedema during surgery and anaesthesia and dying four hours later is rare, unusual and disturbing. Two similar but non-fatal cases, both young males, of intraoperative pulmonary oedema associated with closed fracture reductions, where fat embolism was implicated, have been previously reported in the literature.'