Seat Belt Syndrome and the Submarine Effect: A Case Report

Chirurgia (Bucur). 2017 Sept-Oct;112(5):624-626. doi: 10.21614/chirurgia.112.5.624.

Abstract

The seatbelt sign is indicative of severe internal lesions in as many as 30% of cases. In the "submarine effect" the body slides below the belt, acting like hinge. "Seatbelt syndrome" describes the presence of the seat belt sign plus an intra-abdominal or spinal injury. We present the case of a driver in a car accident in whom severe soft tissue and visceral lesions were caused by a two-point seat-belt reproducing a complete "seatbelt syndrome".

Keywords: seatbeltsyndrome; submarineeffect.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Abdominal Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Abdominal Injuries / surgery*
  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Cecum / injuries
  • Cecum / surgery
  • Colon, Sigmoid / injuries
  • Colon, Sigmoid / surgery*
  • Compartment Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Compartment Syndromes / diagnostic imaging
  • Compartment Syndromes / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Male
  • Reoperation
  • Seat Belts / adverse effects*
  • Submarine Medicine*
  • Syndrome
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome