Author: Basil Iqbal Sait, Vasavi Shenoy Bellare / Editor: Nick Tilbury / Codes: / Published: 14/08/2025
A 24-year-old female is brought to the Emergency Department (ED) following a high-speed, front and rear-end road traffic collision. She was the restrained driver, and airbags were deployed. She managed to self-extricate. Her past medical history is unremarkable and she doesnt take any regular medications.
Your examination findings are as follows:
Airway: Patent
Breathing: SpO2 99% on air. Respiratory rate 16. Normal-looking chest wall. Equal bilateral air entry, no chest wall tenderness.
Circulation: Heart rate 85/min, blood pressure 132/78. No external bleeding, capillary refill <2 sec.
Disability: GCS 15, pupils equal and reactive. Normal neurological examination
Exposure: Subtle Seatbelt mark noted across the left lower abdomen, with mild tenderness on palpation. Soft abdomen.
There is no C-spine or long bone tenderness, and no other external signs of trauma.
A bedside eFAST scan shows a small amount of free fluid in the spleno-renal space.
Blood tests are unremarkable, including normal haemoglobin and lactate.
