Respiratory Distress and Encephalopathy: Fat Embolism Syndrome in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Background: Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are at high risk to develop osteopenia and fractures due to immobilization and therapy with steroids. The fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a known complication of long bone fractures. Lethality is high. Fat emboli can occur asymptomatic, whereas FES is a clinical entity with acute respiratory distress, encephalopathy and often...