Case Exercise: Biomechanics in Rearend Motor Vehicle Collisions

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-7
Author(s):  
Charles N. Brooks ◽  
Christopher R. Brigham

Abstract Multiple factors determine the likelihood, type, and severity of bodily injury following a motor vehicle collision and, in turn, influence the need for treatment, extent of disability, and likelihood of permanent impairment. Among the most important factors is the change in velocity due to an impact (Δv). Other factors include the individual's strength and elasticity, body position at the time of impact, awareness of the impending impact (ie, opportunity to brace, guard, or contract muscles before an impact), and effects of braking. Because Δv is the area under the acceleration vs time curve, it combines force and duration and is a useful way to quantify impact severity. The article includes a table showing the results of a literature review that concluded, “the consensus of human subject research conducted to date is that a single exposure to a rear-end impact with a Δv of 5 mph or less is unlikely to result in injury” in most healthy, restrained occupants. Because velocity incorporates direction as well as speed, a vehicular occupant is less likely to be injured in a rear impact than when struck from the side. Evaluators must consider multiple factors, including the occupant's pre-existing physical and psychosocial status, the mechanism and magnitude of the collision, and a variety of biomechanical variables. Recommendations based solely on patient history and physical findings (and, perhaps, imaging studies) may be ill-informed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 385-390
Author(s):  
Marissa Di Napoli ◽  
William B. DeVoe ◽  
Stuart Leon ◽  
Bruce Crookes ◽  
Alicia Privette ◽  
...  

Background Rib fractures are common after motor vehicle collisions. The hormonal changes associated with pregnancy decrease the stiffness and increase the laxity of cartilage and tendons. The effect of these changes on injury mechanics is not completely understood. Objectives To compare the incidences of chest wall injury following blunt thoracic trauma between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective review of female patients seen at a level I trauma center from 2009 to 2017 after a motor vehicle collision. Patient characteristics were compared to determine if pregnancy affected the incidence of chest wall injury. Statistics were calculated with SPSS version 24 and are presented as mean (SD) or median (interquartile range). Results In total, 1618 patients were identified. The incidence of rib/sternal fracture was significantly lower in pregnant patients (7.9% vs 15.2%, P = .047), but the incidence of intrathoracic injury was similar between the groups. Pregnant and nonpregnant patients with rib/sternal fractures had similar Injury Severity Score results (21 [13-27] vs 17 [11-22], P = .36), but pregnant patients without fractures had significantly lower scores (1 [0-5] vs 4 [1-9], P < .001). Conclusions Pregnant patients have a lower rate of rib fracture after a motor vehicle collision than nonpregnant patients. The difference in injury mechanics may be due to hormonal changes that increase elasticity and resistance to bony injury of the ribs. In pregnant trauma patients, intrathoracic injury without rib fracture should raise concerns about injury severity. A multicenter evaluation of these findings is needed.


eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Hui Yang ◽  
Pei-Shan Ho ◽  
Trong-Neng Wu ◽  
Peng-Wei Wang ◽  
Chun-Hung Richard Lin ◽  
...  

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) can alleviate opioid dependence. However, MMT possibly increases the risk of motor vehicle collisions. The current study investigated preliminary estimation of motor vehicle collision incidence rates. Furthermore, in this population-based retrospective cohort study with frequency-matched controls, opiate adults receiving MMT (cases) and those not receiving MMT (controls) were identified at a 1:2 ratio by linking data from several nationwide administrative registry databases. From 2009 to 2016, the crude incidence rate of motor vehicle collisions was the lowest in the general adult population, followed by that in opiate adults, and it was the highest in adults receiving MMT. The incidence rates of motor vehicle collisions were significantly higher in opiate users receiving MMT than in those not receiving MMT. Kaplan–Meier curves of the incidence of motor vehicle collisions differed significantly between groups, with a significant increased risk during the first 90 days of follow-up. In conclusion, drivers receiving MMT have higher motor vehicle collision risk than those not receiving MMT in opiate users, and it is worthy of noticing road safety in such drivers, particularly during the first 90 days of MMT.


Author(s):  
Karl Kim ◽  
Charlotte Albert-Thenet ◽  
Max Vercruyssen

Motor vehicle collision reports filed by police officers may be useful in investigating driver behavior and identifying potential causal attributes of accident involvement. Inattention and misjudgment were two options appearing on police reports to explain the cause of motor vehicle collisions in Hawai'i from 1986 to 1991. Examination of all crash reports (n = 218,718) revealed that inattention and misjudgment are serious problems for older drivers (65 years and older, n = 14,179). For instance, for the 75 to 84 year old drivers involved in collisions (n = 3659), 36% were classified as inattentive and 22% were identified as having misjudgment errors in driving; for the 85 and older drivers (n = 340), these percentages were 41 and 22, respectively. Of the collisions involving older drivers, 48% were at intersections. Reports of inattention and misjudgments were highest at dusk and dawn compared to other times of the day and night. Among the rear-end collisions, 65% of the older rear-enders were inattentive drivers. Strong associations of inattentive older drivers were found with being a broadsider (49%), side-swiper (45%) and headoner. Misjudgments among older drivers were most associated with being a side-swiper (41% from the opposite direction and 37% from the same direction). Regarding vehicle maneuvers prior to the crash, inattention was associated with right turns on red (61%), U-turns (57%), starting from park (56%), backing (56%), changing lanes (48%), merging (45%), and making left turns (40%). Misjudgment errors were most likely to occur when overtaking (44%), parking (41%), making left turns (39%), and changing lanes (39%). Dangerous actions common among inattentive older drivers included disregarding traffic controls (72%), following too closely (67%), going the wrong way (54%), failing to yield (52%), improper turns (48%), and speeding (45%). Older drivers classified as having misjudgments were most likely to be involved in improper overtaking (46%), failure to yield (41%), and improper turns (39%).


2007 ◽  
Vol 177 (4S) ◽  
pp. 37-37
Author(s):  
James K. Kuan ◽  
Robert Kaufman ◽  
Jonathan L. Wright ◽  
Charles Mock ◽  
Avery B. Nathens ◽  
...  

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5152
Author(s):  
Juncheng Yao ◽  
Bo Wang ◽  
Yujie Hou ◽  
Liang Huang

Traffic accidents such as vehicle collisions with bridge guardrails occur frequently. These accidents cause damage to the driver and the vehicle as well as the bridge. A new type of assembled anti-collision guardrail is proposed in this study. LS-DYNA is a nonlinear display dynamic analysis software used to evaluate the safety of a new type of assembled anti-collision guardrail. A specific, numerically analyzed model of vehicle–guardrail collision is established using LS-DYNA. The energy distribution–time curve of the vehicle collision process is obtained. After comparison with measured data from the vehicle collision test, the model of vehicle–guardrail collision is verified as being correct. Based on this, we analyze the process of a vehicle collision on the assembled anti-collision guardrail. The result shows that the assembled anti-collision guardrail proposed in this paper can better change the trajectory of a moving vehicle and can prevent the vehicle from falling off the bridge. From the car body collision results, the assembled anti-collision guardrail for bridges proposed in this paper can reduce vehicle damage and can protect the driver effectively. From the analysis of the main girder stress on the bridge, an anti-collision guardrail installed on an existing bridge will not cause damage to the main girder during a collision. In order to study the influence of the four parameters on the anti-collision effect, we carried out a comparative calculation of multiple working conditions. The results show that the new type of assembled anti-collision guardrail has good protective performance under different working conditions.


Author(s):  
Tim Nutbeam ◽  
Rob Fenwick ◽  
Jason Smith ◽  
Omar Bouamra ◽  
Lee Wallis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a common cause of major trauma and death. Following an MVC, up to 40% of patients will be trapped in their vehicle. Extrication methods are focused on the prevention of secondary spinal injury through movement minimisation and mitigation. This approach is time consuming and patients may have time-critical injuries. The purpose of this study is to describe the outcomes and injuries of those trapped following an MVC: this will help guide meaningful patient-focused interventions and future extrication strategies. Methods We undertook a retrospective database study using the Trauma Audit and Research Network database. Patients were included if they were admitted to an English hospital following an MVC from 2012 to 2018. Patients were excluded when their outcomes were not known or if they were secondary transfers. Results This analysis identified 426,135 cases of which 63,625 patients were included: 6983 trapped and 56,642 not trapped. Trapped patients had a higher mortality (8.9% vs 5.0%, p < 0.001). Spinal cord injuries were rare (0.71% of all extrications) but frequently (50.1%) associated with other severe injuries. Spinal cord injuries were more common in patients who were trapped (p < 0.001). Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in the trapped group 18 (IQR 10–29) vs 13 (IQR 9–22). Trapped patients had more deranged physiology with lower blood pressures, lower oxygen saturations and lower Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS (all p < 0.001). Trapped patients had more significant injuries of the head chest, abdomen and spine (all p < 0.001) and an increased rate of pelvic injures with significant blood loss, blood loss from other areas or tension pneumothorax (all p < 0.001). Conclusion Trapped patients are more likely to die than those who are not trapped. The frequency of spinal cord injuries is low, accounting for < 0.7% of all patients extricated. Patients who are trapped are more likely to have time-critical injuries requiring intervention. Extrication takes time and when considering the frequency, type and severity of injuries reported here, the benefit of movement minimisation may be outweighed by the additional time taken. Improved extrication strategies should be developed which are evidence-based and allow for the expedient management of other life-threatening injuries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 101091
Author(s):  
Christine M. Wickens ◽  
Anca R. Ialomiteanu ◽  
Patricia Di Ciano ◽  
Gina Stoduto ◽  
Robert E. Mann

2021 ◽  
pp. 194338752199173
Author(s):  
Kevin Hong ◽  
James Jeong ◽  
Yehudah N. Susson ◽  
Shelly Abramowicz

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess patterns of maxillofacial trauma in the pediatric population in Atlanta. This information is important to help guide management and allocate resources for treatment of maxillofacial injuries at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of children who presented from 2006 to 2015. Inclusion criteria were: (1) age 18 years old or younger, (2) presentation to emergency department, (3) diagnosis of maxillofacial fractures, and (4) evaluation by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Otolaryngology, or Plastic Surgery services. Medical records were reviewed to record demographic, mechanism of injury, fracture location, and yearly incidence of injury. Descriptive statistics were computed to summarize findings and overall trends. Results: During the study period, 39,833 patients were identified. Of them, 1995 met the inclusion criteria. The majority were male (n = 1359, 68%) with an average age of 9.4 years old (range of 1 month to 18 years old). Mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collisions (MVC) (n = 597, 29.9%), fall (n = 565, 28.3%), sports injury (n = 317, 15.9%), pedestrian struck (n = 215, 10.8%), assault/abuse (n = 204, 10.2%), other (n = 81, 4.1%), or gunshot wound (n = 16, 0.8%). Fracture sites were mandible (n = 519, 26%), complex (n = 479, 24%), nasal (n = 419, 21%), dentoalveolar (n = 279, 14%), orbital (n = 259, 13%), and maxilla (n = 40, 2%). Males had a higher incidence of assault than females (n = 185, 91% of assaults). The incidence of maxillofacial trauma increased with age with a peak incidence in 13 to 16-year-olds (n = 566, 28.3%). During the years examined, there was an upward trend in MVCs as the etiology with a peak incidence of facial fractures due to MVCs occurring in 2015. All other mechanisms remained constant during this time period. Conclusions: There was an increase in pediatric facial fractures secondary to motor vehicle collisions from 2007 to 2015 despite improvements in regulations, traffic safety, and technology.


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