Air Bags: Reducing the Toll of Brain Trauma

Abstract

Motor vehicle crashes account for approximately one-half of all hospitalized patients with brain injury. Therefore, measures to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries from motor vehicle crashes have the potential for making a substantial impact on the incidence and severity of brain trauma. Occupant restraints, including seat belts and air bags, have been proven highly effective in preventing injuries, yet the specific benefits for the brain, the face, and the cervical spine provided by air bags have not been widely publicized. Air bags prevent the violent whiplash motion of the head in a frontal crash, resulting in a more controlled deceleration of the brain. Wrenching forces exerted on the cervical spine are attenuated, and the face is protected from contact with hard or lacerating surfaces. Furthermore, compliance is not a problem with air bags. When a car is equipped with air bags, they are in effect 100% of the time, which is important for the protection of high risk groups, such a teenage boys, who tend to wear seat belts less often than other groups. It is estimated from national data and from epidemiological studies that air bags could have prevented or reduced brain injury for 25% of the hospitalized, brain-injured population. If provided as standard equipment on both the driver and the passenger side, air bags could do more to reduce the toll of brain trauma than any other available intervention. Air bags were ready for introduction into the marketplace 15 years ago. Since then, approximately 150,000 preventable deaths and more than 1,500,000 preventable brain injuries have occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dynamic padding by retrofit airbags and knee bars. A study of Swedish mail delivery cars

“…alone. Our present study confirms that an airbag provides a considerable amount of protection in frontal collisions (Jagger et al, 1987;Mertz, 1978;Evans, 1990)) which is the most common collision type among fatally-injured, unbelted drivers (NHTSA, 198913).…”

“…In occupations where the driver has to leave the vehicle frequently, such as mail carriers and taxi drivers, the seat belt can be a source of irritation and is, therefore, used less often. Such problems are not associated with the use of airbags (Jagger et al, 1987). Moreover, the seat belt does not protect against injuries caused by broken windshields or by objects within the passenger compartment.…”

Patterns of Maxillofacial Injuries As a Function of Automobile Restraint Use

“…Several reports have also shown a reduced number and severity of injuries sustained by occupants in MVAs in which an airbag was deployed. 4,5 Despite the proven benefit of airbags, an inherent risk remains owing to the necessary force required for airbag deployment. Case reports reveal a number of ocular injuries, abrasions to the face and chest, and otologic complications.…”

Occipital condyle fracture: An unusual airbag injury

“…The airbag, in particular, has reduced morbidity and mortality, including brain injury, associated with such accidents, by as much as 25%. 2 However, severe injuries continue to be sustained in frontal or fronto-angular crashes in spite of the introduction of airbags. 3 Interestingly, with the increasing prevalence of airbags in North America, reports discussing injuries related to airbag deployment began to appear in medical literature in the early 1990s.…”