steering wheel syndrome
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
steering wheel 'syndrome'
Emergency medicine A blunt chest injury to the driver in a 'head-on' MVA, which may cause acute MI-like signs and Sx; the heart bears the brunt of the injury with contusion of the anterior epicardium and myocardium, compression of the heart between the sternum and vertebral column, and an abrupt ↑ in intrathoracic pressure, potentially rupturing cardiac structures–eg, ventricular septum, chordae tendinieae or free wall. Cf Air bags, Dashboard fracture, Padded dash(board) syndrome, Seatbelt injury, Whiplash.McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.