Citation

Wheaton DJ, Tsalamandris K. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 2000; 18(1): 78-82.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48236-2172, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10674539

Abstract

The delayed presentation of an abdominal bleed in a victim of a fall is a rare occurrence. In the multiple injured patients, even with an intact sensorium, competing pain from associated injuries may mask the pain from a occult injury. Although a rare occurrence of abdominal injury in an asymptomatic neurologically intact patient, in the patient requiring a computed tomography scan of a spinal fracture, it may be worthwhile to image the abdomen and pelvis as well to rule out a concomitant occult abdominal injury. Current literature regarding injuries associated with falls from height are discussed that support this position and the delayed manifestation of an abdominal bleed in a 17-year-old boy 1 day after a fall is presented.

Language: en