Citation

Maxeiner H. Beitr. Gerichtl. Med. 1989; 47: 415-427.

Vernacular Title

Tödliche intraoperative Lungenfettembolie bei Endoprothese des Hüftgelenkes.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Verlag Franz Deuticke)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2818512

Abstract

Report on 3 cases of intraoperative death during total hip replacement in treatment of transcervical fracture of the femur, using acrylic bone cement. The patients were two female (83 and 87 years-old) and one male (78 years old), who suffered from a sudden fall at home. Autopsy revealed massive fat embolism (FE) of the lung and in one case also in the other organs; in 2 cases this FE was the cause of death alone, in the third case together with an unusual severe coronary heart disease (heart weight 700 g).

DISCUSSION of the medico-legal aspects, i.e. the coincidence of FE of different causes (traumatic, by operation, by reanimation). Reflections on the certainty to attribute the death to specific (in particular deficient) technical factors.

Language: de