title: Blunt Abdominal Aortic Injury Associated with L2 Vertebral Fracture.
abstract: Blunt abdominal aortic injury (BAAI) is very rare. In general, BAAI occurs in high-energy accidents. Here, we present a case of BAAI in a low-energy accident. A 70-year-old female was injured after falling 3 m. Her vital signs were stable. She had lumbar fractures (L1, L2) and BAAI associated with a fragment of the fractured L2 vertebral body. On the fifth posttrauma day, we performed an operation because computed tomography showed a bone fragment of the lumbar fractures (L1, L2) threatening the abdominal aorta. The aortic injury site was transected, and the fragment of the L2 vertebral body was removed. Even in low-energy accidents, BAAI should be considered. BAAI with stable vital signs can be electively treated.
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Critical Care Center, Tokushima Red Cross Hospital, Tokushima, Japan. Electronic address: y.yoshioka@tokushima-med.jrc.or.jp.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Awaji Medical Center, ​Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Awaji Medical Center, ​Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Awaji Medical Center, ​Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arase
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Awaji Medical Center, ​Hyogo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery