Association Between the Seat Belt Sign and Intra‐abdominal Injuries in Children With Blunt Torso Trauma in Motor Vehicle Collisions

Abstract

Patients with seat belt signs after MVCs are at greater risk of IAI than those without seat belt signs, predominately due to gastrointestinal injuries. Although IAIs are less common in alert patients with seat belt signs who do not have initial complaints of abdominal pain or tenderness, the risk of IAI is sufficient that additional evaluation such as observation, laboratory studies, and potentially abdominal CT scanning is generally necessary.