[A seatbelt sign following a car accident: look for internal abdominal injury]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2010:154:A1950.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

We present three patients, a 55-year-old man, a 69-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man, with a seatbelt sign following a car accident. All 3 patients exhibited various injuries that may occur in the case of a blunt trauma, for example rib fractures. In one patient, however, symptoms of internal abdominal injury occurred several days after the accident. The presence of a seatbelt sign is associated with an increased risk of internal abdominal injury. We therefore advise a CT scan of the abdomen in patients who present with a seatbelt sign, even if abdominal ultrasound does not reveal signs of injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Abdominal Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Abdominal Injuries / etiology*
  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Automobiles
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Seat Belts / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / diagnosis
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / diagnostic imaging
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / etiology