Preventive effects of seat belts on traumatic brain injury in motor vehicle collisions classified by crash severities and collision directions

A review of the management of 239 patients with sternal fractures in a busy trauma center between October 1989 and May 2000 was undertaken to determine the incidence, significance, morbidity, and mortality of this injury. There were 140 men and 99 women with a mean age of 50.3 years (range, 15 to 93 years). Sternal fractures accounted for 8% of admissions for thoracic trauma. The causes were motor vehicle collisions in 215 patients (90%) and falls or direct blows in 24 (10%). Only 64 of 204 car accident patients (31%), 28 men and 36 women, were restrained by seat belts. Complications developed in 13 patients (5.4%). Mortality rate was 0.8%. Mean length of stay in the ward was 6.4 days (range, 1 to 32 days). Four patients (1.7%) underwent surgery. The results show that isolated sternal fractures have low associated morbidity and mortality. Admission is justified for the management of pain and treatment of cardiac complications and concomitant injuries.

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Biomechanical Analysis of Late Airbag Deployment in Motor Vehicle Crashes Using Computer Simulation

ASME 2007 Summer Bioengineering Conference ◽

10.1115/sbc2007-176654 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Russell Frieder ◽

Sri Kumar

Keyword(s):

Computer Simulation ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Biomechanical Analysis ◽

Seat Belts ◽

Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽

Vehicle Collisions ◽

Restraint Use ◽

Airbag Deployment ◽

Safety Systems ◽

Frontal Collisions

Motor vehicle collisions frequently result in serious or fatal inuries to occupants [1–4]. Frontal collisions are amongst the most severe types of accidents. The use of safety systems such as seat belts and airbags has been shown to reduce the severity of injuries sustained by occupants [5–10]. It is well known that frontal airbags act as supplemental restraints to seat belts in protecting occupants. Airbag deployment occurs through a reaction of chemicals in the inflator that rapidly produces gas and fills the canvas bag. The filled bag acts a cushion between the occupant and the vehicle’s interior components. The supplemental restraint provided by the airbag increases the amount of time and distance over which the occupant’s body decelerates, and accordingly reduces the potential for injury. The time at which the airbag deployment is initiated during the crash sequence can have an effect on the nature of the contact between occupant and airbag. Though properly timed, frontal airbags have been shown to reduce injuries sustained to occupants[11], it has been reported that airbags that deploy too late may cause injury[12]. To date, there have been a very limited number of studies that have addressed the biomechanical effects of late airbag deployment. The purpose of this study is to determine the biomechanical effects of late airbag deployment and restraint use on various sizes of occupants through computer simulation.

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