Fatal abdominal aortic compression associated with thoracic vertebral fracture-dislocation after a short fall.

Abdominal aortic injury after blunt trauma is a rare event, as these injuries occur much less frequently than do those of the thoracic aorta. We present an unusual case of fatal abdominal aortic compression with presumed compression associated with a fracture-dislocation of the T11 vertebral body after a short fall, which to our knowledge is the first reported case of this type.