@article{ref1,
title="Seatbelt syndrome associated with an isolated rectal injury: case report",
journal="World journal of emergency surgery",
year="2010",
author="Hefny, Ashraf F. and Al-Ashaal, Yousef I. and Bani-Hashem, Ahmed M. and Abu-Zidan, Fikri M.",
volume="5",
number="1",
pages="4-4",
abstract="Seatbelt syndrome is defined as a seatbelt sign associated with a lumbar spine fracture and a bowel perforation. An isolated rectal perforation due to seatbelt syndrome is extremely rare. There is only one case reported in the Danish literature and non in the English literature. A 48-year old front seat restrained passenger was involved in a head-on collision. He had lower abdominal pain and back pain. Seatbelt mark was seen across the lower abdomen. Initial trauma CT scan was normal except for a burst fracture of L5 vertebra which was operated on by internal fixation on the same day. The patient continued to have abdominal pain. A repeated abdominal CT scan on the third day has shown free intraperitoneal air. Laparotomy has revealed a perforation of the proximal part of the rectum below the recto sigmoid junction. Hartmann's procedure was performed. The abdomen was left open. Gradual closure of the abdominal fascia over a period of two weeks was performed. Postoperatively, the patient had temporary urinary retention due to quada equina injury which resolved 10 months after surgery. The presence of a seatbelt sign and a lumbar fracture should raise the possibility of a bowel injury.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1749-7922",
doi="10.1186/1749-7922-5-4",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1749-7922-5-4"
}