Citation

Bunai Y, Nagai A, Nakamura I, Ohya I. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2000; 21(3): 207-209.

Affiliation

Department of Legal Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10990276

Abstract

A female driver, 24 weeks pregnant, was wearing a three-point seatbelt in the manner usual for nonpregnant women, when her automobile collided head-on with another vehicle. A cardiotocographic examination after the accident revealed the fetus to be alive. Five days after the accident, however, a cardiotocographic examination showed fetal death. At that time, a transverse ecchymotic band on the lower abdominal wall that had not been observed at the first examination was noticed. Eight days after the accident, the mother delivered a macerated female fetus. At autopsy, the baby showed no abnormality, but there was a hematoma on the placental surface toward the uterus. These results suggest that the fetus died of abruptio placentae associated with incorrect placement of the lap belt.

Language: en