Splenic rupture and splenectomy due to fall from wheelchair.
This report describes the effect of blunt abdominal trauma incurred when a quadriplegic patient slid sideways, catching his flank between the wheelchair arm and a slightly reclined wheelchair back. The patient experienced almost immediate pain in the left shoulder, and gradual cardiovascular collapse. The diagnosis of splenic rupture, followed by splenectomy, was life-saving. Pertinent literature is cited and attention is drawn to the necessity for early diagnosis in blunt abdominal trauma.
D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014910:Wheelchairs