TY - JOUR PY - 1997// TI - Lateral impact motor vehicle collisions: significant cause of blunt traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta JO - Journal of trauma A1 - Waddell, J. P. A1 - Sharkey, P. W. A1 - Boulanger, B. R. A1 - Brenneman, Frederick D. A1 - McLellan, B. A. A1 - Katyal, D. SP - 769 EP - 772 VL - 42 IS - 5 N2 - BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta (TRA) and the direction of impact at the time of motor vehicle crash. METHODS: Retrospective review of TRA patients from two different databases over a 4.5-year period (January 1, 1991 to June 30, 1995): (1) Ontario Coroner's Office records of motor vehicle deaths from Metropolitan Toronto, and (2) the trauma registries of Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and St. Michael's Hospital in Metropolitan Toronto. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients (81 from the coroner's database and 16 from the adult trauma unit registries) sustained traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta. Forty-eight cases (49.5%) were a result of lateral impact crashes. Twenty-eight drivers (22 ipsilateral and six contralateral) and 20 passengers (16 ipsilateral and four contralateral) sustained TRA from lateral impact crashes. Ninety-one TRAs (94%) occurred at the peri-isthmic region. CONCLUSION: Lateral impact crashes are a significant cause of TRA. Traumatic rupture of the aorta should be considered with a high index of suspicion after serious lateral impact crashes, just as physicians now consider patients at high risk of TRA after serious frontal impact crashes. LA - SN - 0022-5282 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -