IL
A 63-year-old female asked:
Can a fall off a bicycle cause a tear in the aorta?
4 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Khashayar Salartashanswered
Vascular Surgery 31 years experience
Yes: This is known as a traumatic pseudo aneurysm . This can occur with any form of sudden deceleration injury. This can be diagnosed with a ct scan of the chest.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Benjamin Lerneranswered
Vascular Surgery 21 years experience
Unlikely: Typically a bicycle is not high enough for the fall to generate enough force to tear the aorta. In trauma circles, we use a height of 10 feet as the distance needed to worry about aortic transection, but theoretically any blunt force could hurt.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Frederick Tibayananswered
Thoracic Surgery 25 years experience
Unlikely but possible: Any serious deceleration can cause traumatic disruption of the aorta. More commonly motor vehicle collisions, but I have seen a bicycle collision do it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Joel Gotvaldanswered
Vascular Surgery 27 years experience
Yes: I have done vascular trauma for years & this is a possibility. A sudden deceleration from sudden impact or fall can cause a tear in the aorta, most commonly at the region of the distal aortic arch in the chest. CT scan of the chest can quickly diagnose the condition. It requires urgent repair. There can be immediate bleeding, delayed bleeding, or aneurysm development at the site of injury.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 5, 2019
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