Orthopaedic Surgery

Answer 1 Chest injury. ARDS is a known complication of multiple injury with femur fracture. Pulmonary complications associated with multiple injuries are decreased with early stabilization of femur fractures; however, a delay of less than 24 hours to fixation has not been demonstrated to increase the risk of pulmonary complications. The use of unreamed rods was once believed to lessen the shower of fat emboli to the lung at the time of fracture fixation. However, no clinical evidence exists to support better pulmonary outcomes with the use of unreamed rods, and fracture healing results may be compromised with their use. Head and abdominal injuries are associated with ARDS, but the most significant risk factor for the development of ARDS is serious chest injury. Click here to return to the questions

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