SEAT BELT INJURIES

Course overview

ALTHOUGH SEATBELTS HAVE PREVENTED NUMEROUS DEATHS BY REDUCING HEAD INJURIES, THEY CAN CAUSE DAMAGE VIA THE TRANSMISSION OF FORCE UPON IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESTRAINT OF A PASSENGER. SEATBELT INJURY, ALSO CALLED SEATBELT SYNDROME, IS A GROUP OF COMMON INJURY PROFILES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF SEATBELTS. THESE RANGE FROM BRUISING AND ABRASIONS FOLLOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE SEATBELT, ALSO KNOWN AS SEATBELT SIGNS, TO INTRA-ABDOMINAL INJURIES AND VERTEBRAL FRACTURES. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SEAT BELT INJURIES AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.