Gastrointestinal disruption and vertebral fracture associated with the use of seat belts.

Seat belts have been shown to be beneficial in reducing the type and severity of injuries sustained in road traffic accidents. The association of vertebral and visceral injuries, although previously described, is rare. This and various other confounding factors may make diagnosis of the visceral injury difficult. We describe four cases of combined vertebral and visceral injury caused by the use of seat belts. The pathogenesis of the injury and subsequent management are discussed.