[Seat belt related abdominal injuries (author's transl)].

Seat belts reduce the severity of trauma in car accidents. There is a definite decrease in the percentage of head injuries, while abdominal lesions seem to increase. Experimental and clinical investigations show a predominance of abdominal wall injuries and liver ruptures. The seat belt syndrome requires close observation of the patient in the intensive care unit. An increasing number of late intestinal obstructions after a seat belt injury due to lesions of the intestinal wall are reported.