The Association Between Restraint System and Upper Extremity Injury After Motor Vehicle Collisions

This article reports on a study undertaken to investigate the relationship between upper extremity (UE) injuries and occupant restraint systems among front seat occupants who were involved in frontal motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). The case-control study used data from the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) from 1995 through 2002. Groups of occupants were categorized in three mutually-exclusive groups: seatbelt-only, airbag-only, or seatbag-airbag-combined. Seatbelt-only occupants had a reduced UE injury risk. Near null associations were found for airbag-only and seatbelt-airbag combined. The authors conclude that UE injuries may become more common as a result of MVCs as the proportion of airbags in motor vehicles increases. The authors note that the study results are strengthened by the large sample size provided by using CDS data and their comprehensive and reliable data collection at and beyond the MVC scene. The greater risk of UE injury among MVC occupants with an airbag deployment, relative to occupants restrained by seatbelt, is probably the result of acute forces from airbag impact and entrapment of the arm, forearm, or hand in the steering wheel.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08905339
• Authors:
  • Goldman, Matthew W
  • MacLennan, Paul A
  • McGwin Jr, Gerald
  • Lee, Donald H
  • Sparks, Dierick R
  • Rue, Loring W
• Publication Date: 2005-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 529-534
• Serial:
  • Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Raven Press
  • ISSN: 0890-5339
  • Serial URL: http://journals.lww.com/jorthotrauma/pages/default.aspx

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air bags; Crash injuries; Crash injury research; Injury causes; Manual safety belts; Risk assessment; Seat belts; Upper extremities
• Identifier Terms: Crashworthiness Data System; National Automotive Sampling System
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01010577
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 12 2005 5:54AM