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Case Reports
. 2012:2012:326936.
doi: 10.1155/2012/326936. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

Seatbelt: a double-edged sword

P Raychaudhuri  1 , N K Cheung, C Bendinelli, M Puvaneswary, R Ferch, Rajendra Kumar
Affiliations
Case Reports

Seatbelt: a double-edged sword

P Raychaudhuri et al. Case Rep Pediatr. 2012.

Abstract

Intra-abdominal vascular injury due to blunt trauma is unusual in children. Due to its rarity, detailed reports dealing with its management are scarce in paediatric literature. Diagnosis of these injuries is challenging, and a high degree of awareness is necessary for rapid identification and treatment of these injuries. We report the case of a child with seatbelt sign and mesenteric vein injury due to blunt trauma to the abdomen during a motor vehicle accident where the seatbelt was incorrectly placed. She also sustained cervical vertebral injury. The pattern of injuries in children in these situations may differ from that found in adults. While seatbelts have undoubtedly saved many lives, awareness about correct placement of these restraints is extremely necessary.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Seatbelt sign (note wrong position of the seatbelt).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Type III displaced and angulated fracture of the odontoid process.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Coronal view arterial phase CT abdomen. Filling defect in main SMV (long arrow) and large amount of intraperitoneal blood.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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