Citation

D'Elia MA, Grant RI, Kolozsvari NO, Matar MM. Trauma Case Rep 2019; 22: e100206.

Affiliation

Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.tcr.2019.100206

PMID

31193627

PMCID

PMC6538840

Abstract

Diagnosing hollow viscus injury following motor vehicle collision (MVC) requires a high index of suspicion. Here we present two cases of high velocity MVC, with 3-point restrained occupants, who presented with a seatbelt sign and associated acute traumatic flank herniation. Both patients underwent a computer tomography (CT) scan which did not identify any hollow viscus injuries. Significant injuries were ultimately identified in the operating room (OR). The presence of a seatbelt sign and underlying acute traumatic hernia should prompt a heightened level of suspicion for intra-abdominal injury, particularly hollow viscus. A heightened level of suspision and a lower threshold for operative exploration is suggested to avoid the morbidity and mortality associated with a delayed diagnosis of hollow viscus injury.

Language: en

Keywords

High speed MVC; Hollow viscus injury; Seatbelt sign; Traumatic abdominal wall hernia