Pediatric traumatic abdominal wall hernia as a component of the seatbelt syndrome: a case series and review of the literature

Case series of nine pediatric patients with traumatic abdominal wall hernia (TAWH) after restrained motor vehicle collisions reveals high association with seatbelt syndrome injuries including spinal flexion injuries (44%) and bowel injuries (56%). Most patients presented with visible seatbelt sign, and over half had BMI >95th percentile, suggesting need for low threshold for axial imaging in children with seatbelt marks after MVC.