Bone marrow embolus.

This was secondary to bone fractures. Bone marrow emboli must be considered with any fracture, especially those of long bones. They can lead to pulmonary emboli, which can potentially be a life threatening complication.

The clinical signs and symptoms of pulmonary emboli ("PE") are: chest pain, shortness of breath, cough and hemoptysis. If a "PE" is suspected, one must order a ventilation/perfusion scan ("VQ scan") to help make the diagnosis. Early treatment with heparin or other thrombolytics can greatly reduce the morbidity and mortality.


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