Citation

Liverani A, Pezzatini M, Conte S, Mari F, Milillo A, Gasparrini M, Marino G, Catracchia V, Favi F. G. Chir. 2009; 30(5): 234-236.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, CIC Edizioni Internazionali)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

19505417

Abstract

Vehicle collisions represent more than 75% of mechanism of blunt abdominal trauma. In spite of the incomparable improvement of car safety devices, recent studies pointed out that the airbag might cause injuries, specially when it is not associated with seatbelt. In fact, some studies pointed out that crash victims using airbag alone have increased injury severity, hospitalisations, thoracoabdominal procedure, and rehabilitation. Some of the most frequently injured organs reported from airbag deployment are the liver (38%), the spleen (23%) and digestive system (17%). Injury of the hollow viscera are far less common. In particular, blunt abdominal trauma resulting in small bowel perforation is an infrequent lesion. These injuries are difficult to diagnose because specific signs are poor and a delay in treatment increases mortality and morbidity of the patients. We describe a case of thoracoabdominal trauma occurred during a head-on collision after an airbag deployment without seatbelt use.

Language: en