UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Abdominal Trauma

Category: Trauma

Keywords: Seatbelt Sign, Abdominal, Trauma (PubMed Search)

Posted: 10/28/2007 by Michael Bond, MD (Updated: 8/12/2026)

Seat Belt Sign:

Patients with a seat belt sign have a high risk of hollow viscus injury
Often have a negative CT scan
Admit for serial exams and observation, at an absolute minimum patient should be watched 6 hours.
Look for associated Lumbar Chance Fractures.