Seat Belt Injury to the Female Breast: Review and Discussion of its Surgical Management

With the use of the 3-point lap–diagonal seat belt restraint, there has been a reduction in the number of deaths caused by automobile trauma. However, a new pattern of injury has emerged, the ‘seat-belt syndrome’, which comprises a constellation of injuries including soft tissue injury to the breast. Given that seat belt legislation is becoming more widespread, it is likely that the incidence and reporting of these injuries will become more common. This paper provides an overview of the varied clinical and radiological presentations, and suggested management of seat belt injury to the female breast. The consequences of such injury can be severe in their functional, psychosocial, and aesthetic impact, and thus, using an index case as an example, the previously unreported area of breast reconstruction in a breast deformed as a result of blunt trauma is discussed, highlighting some of its challenges.

• Authors:
  • Paddle, Alenka M
  • Morrison, Wayne A
• Publication Date: 2010-2-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 71-74
• Serial:
  • ANZ Journal of Surgery
  • Volume: 80
  • Issue Number: 1-2
  • Publisher: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Females; Injuries; Injury types; Seat belts; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Breast
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01165455
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 20 2010 11:27AM