Late presentation of small bowel obstruction following blunt abdominal trauma.
BACKGROUND
Motor vehicle accidents have increasingly become a major cause of serious blunt abdominal and chest injury, the pattern and mechanism of which has changed in recent years largely due to seatbelt legislation.


OBJECTIVE
A case of blunt abdominal and chest trauma is reported which resulted in a mesenteric tear--the small bowel subsequently herniated through and strangulated.


CONCLUSIONS
This case highlights the need for clinical suspicion, serial physical examination and early surgery in the management of these injuries.
Casey
R G
RG
Department of General Surgery, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Co Louth, Ireland. rcasey@oceanfree.net
Ryan
J
J
Gillen
P
P
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012622:Seat Belts; D013997:Time Factors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*