title: [Injuries to the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the chest wall and abdomen resulting from seat belt trauma in road accident victims].
abstract: A modification of the autopsy has been discussed. The modification concerns the dissection of the chest and abdomen integuments prior to opening the peritoneal cavity. This makes it easier to determine where and how the injuries to subcutaneous tissues and muscles resulting from the action of seat belts occurring in road accident victims are located. The mechanism whereby the injuries occur, factors which affect their extensiveness and location (what happened during an accident, the type of seat belts, victim's clothing, thickness of subcutaneous tissue) has been presented. Based on three-year experience the advantages and limitations of the suggested dissection as well as its usefulness in the practice of determining: if an accident victim was buckled up when the accident occurred and which car seat he/she occupied, have been discussed. In a case presented, thanks to the use of the proposed modification, the data obtained from an inquiry held by the Public Prosecutor's Office were quickly verified, as well as further examinations to explain the accident circumstances provoked and a person who was actually driving a car when the accident happened established.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Medycyny Sadowej Wojewódzkiego Centrum Medycznego w Opolu.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masełko
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000473:pathology*