Lethal mechanisms in cases of inverted suspension from the lap component of seat belts

2021 ◽  
pp. 002580242199399
Author(s):  
Siobhan O’Donovan ◽  
Neil EI Langlois ◽  
Corinna van den Heuvel ◽  
Roger W Byard
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Neck Flexion ◽  
Seat Belts ◽  
Respiratory Compromise ◽  
Positional Asphyxia

A retrospective review of autopsy files at Forensic Science South Australia in Adelaide, Australia, was undertaken over a five-year period from January 2014 to December 2018 for all motor vehicle crashes with rollovers ending with the vehicle inverted and the occupants suspended by the lap component of their seat belts. There were five cases, all male drivers (aged 18–67 years; Mage = 32 years). Acute neck flexion or head wedging was noted in four cases, with facial petechiae in four and facial congestion in one. Deaths were due to positional asphyxia in four cases, with the combined effects of positional asphyxia and head trauma accounting for the remaining case. Although all drivers had evidence of head impact which may have caused incapacitation, in only one case was this considered severe enough to have contributed to death. A blood alcohol level above the legal limit for driving was detected in two cases, but no other drugs were detected. This series demonstrates another subset of cases of seat belt–associated deaths where suspension upside down by the lap component of a seat belt had occurred after vehicle rollovers. Predisposing factors include incapacitation of the victim and delay in rescue. The postulated lethal mechanism involved respiratory compromise from the weight of abdominal viscera on the diaphragm, as well as upper airway compromise due to kinking of the neck and wedging of the head.

The continued burden of spine fractures after motor vehicle crashes

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie C. Wang ◽  
Frank Pintar ◽  
Narayan Yoganandan ◽  
Dennis J. Maiman
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Spine Fracture ◽  
Spine Fractures ◽  
Seat Belts ◽  
Front Seat ◽  
Air Bags ◽  
Police Reports ◽  
Air Bag

Object Spine fractures are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Public health interventions, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, have led to an increase in automobiles with air bags and the increased use of seat belts to lessen injuries sustained from MVCs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate secular trends in the occurrence of spine fractures associated with MVCs and evaluate the association between air bag and seat belt use with spine fractures. Methods Using the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System, a database of the police reports of all MVCs in Wisconsin linked to hospital records, the authors studied the occurrence of spine fractures and seat belt and air bag use from 1994 to 2002. Demographic information and crash characteristics were obtained from the police reports. Injury characteristics were determined using International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) hospital discharge codes. Results From 1994 to 2002, there were 29,860 hospital admissions associated with automobile or truck crashes. There were 20,276 drivers or front-seat passengers 16 years of age and older who were not missing ICD-9-CM discharge codes, seat belt or air bag data, and who had not been ejected from the vehicle. Of these, 2530 (12.5%) sustained a spine fracture. The occurrence of spine fractures increased over the study period, and the use of a seat belt plus air bag, and of air bags alone also increased during this period. However, the occurrence of severe spine fractures (Abbreviated Injury Scale Score ≥3) did not significantly increase over the study period. The use of both seat belt and air bag was associated with decreased odds of a spine fracture. Use of an air bag alone was associated with increased odds of a severe thoracic, but not cervical spine fracture. Conclusions Among drivers and front-seat passengers admitted to the hospital after MVCs, the occurrence of spine fractures increased from 1994 to 2002 despite concomitant increases in seat belt and air bag use. However, the occurrence of severe spine fractures did not increase over the study period. The use of both seat belt and air bag is protective against spine fractures. Although the overall increased occurrence of spine fractures may appear contrary to the increased use of seat belts and air bags in general, it is possible that improved imaging technology may be associated with an increase in the diagnosis of relatively minor fractures. However, given the significant protective effects of both seat belt and air bag use against spine fractures, resources should continue to be dedicated toward increasing their use to mitigate the effects of MVCs.

Seat-Belt Use and Relation to Neurologic Injury in Motor Vehicle Crashes

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 325???328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick C. Sasso ◽  
Paul R. Meyer ◽  
Allen W. Heinemann ◽  
John Van Aken ◽  
Barbara Hastie
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Neurologic Injury ◽  
Seat Belt Use

On Informing Women of Child Bearing Age about Seat Belt Risk during Pregnancy

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 943-946
Author(s):  
Kenya Freeman ◽  
Michael S. Wogalter
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Seat Belts ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Severe Injuries ◽  
Vehicle Accidents ◽  
Child Bearing ◽  
Seat Belt Use ◽  
Serious Injuries

Seat belts have been effective in reducing serious injuries and deaths in vehicular accidents. However, their use by women in the third trimester of pregnancy can cause placental damage and fetal injury or death in relatively minor motor vehicle accidents without severely injuring pregnant women. The lack of seat belt use in similar or more serious accidents could cause severe injuries or death to pregnant women from impacts within the cabin or from ejection, and in turn could lead to fetal injuries or deaths. The present study sought to determine whether women between the ages of 16 and 45 (child bearing age) would like to be informed of these risks. Ninety-nine of the 101 women surveyed indicated they would like to be informed of the risks, and that they would expect to find this information in the vehicle's owners manual. in dealing with the risks, some women indicated that they would wear the seatbelts and others indicated they would not. Most respondents indicated that they would reduce the risks by reducing their use of the vehicle during pregnancy. These results have implications for risk communications.

scholarly journals Chance Fracture in Three Brothers

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-326
Author(s):  
Lucidio Duarte De Souza Filho ◽  
Geraldo Vitor Cardoso Bicalho ◽  
Bernardo Drummond ◽  
Rafael Stein Rosseto ◽  
Rodrigo Moreira Faleiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanism ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Seat Belts ◽  
Abdominal Injuries ◽  
Chance Fracture ◽  
Belo Horizonte ◽  
Type Of Injury ◽  
Type Of Fracture

Chance fracture, suggestive of a flexion-distraction mechanism, is an uncommon type of injury in the pediatric population. Its occurrence, with associated intra-abdomimal lesions, has increased with the widespread use of seat belts. Since this type of fracture presents subtle variations on common image examinations, its diagnosis may be delayed increasing the probability of subsequent neurologic deficits. In this paper we report the case of three siblings, victims of a motor vehicle head-on collision,either presenting seat belt fracture or Chance fracture. They were treated in the Hospital João XXIII, Belo Horizonte. The case reported reinforces the hypothesis describing the fracture mechanism and associated intra-abdominal injuries.

Seat Belt Use and its Effect on Abdominal Trauma: A National Trauma Databank Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick A. Nash ◽  
Obi Okoye ◽  
Ozgur Albuz ◽  
Kelly N. Vogt ◽  
Efstathios Karamanos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Seat Belts ◽  
Abdominal Injuries ◽  
National Trauma ◽  
Seat Belt Use

We sought to use the National Trauma Databank to determine the demographics, injury distribution, associated abdominal injuries, and outcomes of those patients who are restrained versus unrestrained. All victims of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) were identified from the National Trauma Databank and stratified into subpopulations depending on the use of seat belts. A total of 150,161 MVC victims were included in this study, 72,394 (48%) were belted. Young, male passengers were the least likely to be wearing a seat belt. Restrained victims were less likely to have severe injury as measured by Injury Severity Score and Abbreviated Injury Score. Restrained victims were also less likely to suffer solid organ injuries (9.7% vs 12%, P < 0.001), but more likely to have hollow viscous injuries (1.9% vs 1.3%, P < 0.001). The hospital and intensive care unit length of stay were significantly shorter in belted victims with adjusted mean difference: -1.36 (-1.45, -1.27) and -0.96 (-1.02, -0.90), respectively. Seat belt use was associated with a significantly lower crude mortality than unrestrained victims (1.9% vs 3.3%, P < 0.001), and after adjusting for differences in age, gender, position in vehicle, and deployment of air bags, the protective effect remained (adjusted odds ratio for mortality 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.47, 0.54). In conclusion, MVC victims wearing seat belts have a significant reduction in the severity of injuries in all body areas, lower mortality, a shorter hospital stay, and decreased length of stay in the intensive care unit. The nature of abdominal injuries, however, was significantly different, with a higher incidence of hollow viscous injury in those wearing seat belts.

scholarly journals Prevalence of risky driving behaviours on popular television series

2018 ◽  
pp. 355-356
Author(s):  
Abigail Tien ◽  
Peter Chu ◽  
Lorraine Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Television Series ◽  
Risky Driving ◽  
The Road ◽  
Driving Behaviour ◽  
Popular Television

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among young adults. Social media and television have been shown to affect the likelihood that young adults will engage in risk-taking behaviour. We watched 216 episodes of five popular television series on Netflix and identified 333 separate driving scenes, of which 271 (81.4%) portrayed at least one risky driving behaviour. Unsafe driving (not wearing a seat belt) was the most common risky driving behaviour noted, occurring in 245 (73.6%) of driving scenes. Distracted driving (36 [18.8%]) and driving while using a cellphone (28 [8.4%]) were also noted. Popular television series model unsafe driving behaviours. Seat belts are infrequently used. As well, drivers are often distracted, looking away from the road to talk or talking on their cellphones. Television producers should be sensitive to modelling unsafe driving behaviours, particularly if the audience consists largely of young people.

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