steering wheel syndrome

A blunt chest injury to the driver in a ‘head-on’ RTA/MVA, which may cause acute myocardial infarction-like signs and symptoms; 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 increased in intrathoracic pressure, potentially rupturing cardiac structures—e.g., ventricular septum, chordae tendinieae or free wall

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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.