Catastrophic uterine rupture of an unscarred uterus following motor vehicle rollover – a case report

Abstract

A 22 year old female at 6 months gestation with no history of prior abdominal surgery or previous uterine procedures presented via air transport after highway motor vehicle rollover. Due to hemodynamic instability, the only preoperative imaging that was able to be obtained was bedside sonography, which confirmed free fluid in the upper quadrants and unfortunately, fetal demise. In the operating room, source of bleeding was noted to be multiple large uterine ruptures. Uterine rupture in trauma in the absence of prior uterine surgery is a rare event and has never been reported in the third trimester, however it should remain in the differential for a pregnant trauma patient presenting with hemodynamic instability.