Seat-Belt Neuropathy

To the Editor.—  The following case is presented as an addition to The Journal's documentation of unusual traumatic neuropathies that manifest as diagnostic dilemmas.

Report of a Case.—  One of the authors (D.M.K.) is a 28-year-old experimental pathologist in good health (height, 177 cm; weight, 57 kg) whose only complaint was intermittent, sharp abdominal pain of ten days' duration, which localized to the lower right quadrant and was severe enough to cause interruption of sleep. Findings from physical examination were entirely within normal limits. Pertinent medical history included repair of rightsided inguinal hernia 27 years ago. Diagnoses of subacute appendicitis and intestinal torsion were considered but were subsequently dismissed when the cause of symptoms was discovered shortly thereafter.The author had recently purchased an automobile whose seat belts consist of onepiece lap-shoulder restraints. On the belts are rectangular plastic slides (6×2×0.2 cm) that can be used to position the metal