The Impact of Seat Belt Use in Pregnancy on Injuries and Outcomes After Motor Vehicle Collisions

BACKGROUND: Seat belt use during motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) has been shown to alter adults' intra-abdominal injury patterns, although the effect of seat belt use in pregnant women is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of seat belt use in pregnancy on injuries and outcomes after MVCs. METHODS: Patients injured by MVCs were identified from the National Trauma Data Bank (2007-2014). The exclusion criteria were transfer from an outside hospital, male or unspecified sex, missing restraint data, and nonchildbearing age. Demographics, clinical/injury data, pregnancy status, seat belt use, and outcomes were collected. Study groups were dichotomized by pregnancy status with subgroup analysis by seat belt use. Univariate/multivariate analyses compared outcomes and determined predictors of seat belt use. RESULTS: After exclusions, 162,964 women were included, of which 680 (<1%) were pregnant. Intra-abdominal injuries during pregnancy did not vary according to seat belt use (P > 0.05). Unrestrained pregnant women were more injured (Injury Severity Score: 13 versus 7, P < 0.001), more likely to need emergent operation (14% versus 10%, P < 0.001), and had a longer hospital stay (6 versus 4 d, P = 0.012) than restrained counterparts. On multivariate analysis among pregnant women, seat belt use was associated with age >=25 y (odds ratio: 2.033, P = 0.001). The lack of restraint use was associated with the position in the passenger seat (odds ratio: 0.521, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Seat belt use in pregnancy does not alter abdominal injury patterns but is associated with lower injury severity, reduced need for emergent surgery, and shortened hospital stay. Public health interventions emphasizing the importance of seat belts could be focused on younger patients and vehicle passengers to reach the high-risk pregnant subset.

• Record URL:
  • http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2020.04.012
• Record URL:
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022480420302328
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00224804
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Schellenberg, Morgan
  • Ruiz, Nallely Saldana
  • Cheng, Vincent
  • Heindel, Patrick
  • Roedel, Erik Q
  • Clark, Damon H
  • Inaba, Kenji
  • Demetriades, Demetrios
• Publication Date: 2020

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 96-101
• Serial:
  • Journal of Surgical Research
  • Volume: 254
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0022-4804
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00224804?sdc=2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abdomen; Crash injuries; Crashes; Pregnant women; Seat belt use
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01765584
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 22 2021 10:21AM