Hemorrhagic shock from breast blunt trauma

BACKGROUND: Seat belt use has been associated with decreased life-threatening thoracic injuries. However, there has been an increase in soft-tissue injuries such as breast trauma. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of a young healthy female who presented to a community hospital Emergency department without any trauma designation following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was found to have hemorrhagic shock from an intramammary hemorrhage and was treated with blood products and a temporizing external abdominal binder in preparation for a transfer to a level 1 center where she was successfully treated with angiographic embolization. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to report on a case hemorrhagic shock from a breast hematoma as well as a review of the literature on previous seat belt associated breast trauma and its management in the emergency department. CONCLUSION: Seat belt associated breast trauma is uncommon in the emergency medicine literature. However, it can be associated with life threatening intramammary bleeding. Emergency physicians should be aware of these injuries and their proper management.