Fatal pulmonary fat embolism following spinal fusion surgery

Objective To report the case of a fatal pulmonary fat embolism as a complication of spinal fusion surgery. Design Case report. Setting Pediatric intensive care unit at a freestanding tertiary care children's hospital. Patient An adolescent female with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent spinal fusion surgery with instrumentation and suffered a fatal pulmonary fat embolism. Conclusion Spinal fusion surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis is a common operative procedure. Pulmonary fat embolism as a complication of this procedure is rare. This case emphasizes the need to be aware of this potentially fatal postoperative complication. Specifically evaluating for this rare complication may lead to understanding cases of unexplained deterioration and death.