A 20-year-old female sustained multiple long bone fractures after a motorcycle accident. The patient is at risk for fat emboli, a serious complication. Which of the following signs and symptoms indicate fat emboli?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Signs and symptoms of fat emboli include tachypnea, tachycardia, elevated temperature, thrombocytopenia, and mild neurological symptoms like confusion. Petechial rash on the upper anterior portion of the body occurs late and disappears within hours. Fractures involving the long bones release a great amount of fat into the marrow vessels that obstruct the pulmonary and systemic vasculature.

A 20-Year-Old Female Sustained Multiple Long Bone Fractures After a Motorcycle