Crash Characteristics and Injury Patterns of Restrained Front Seat Occupants in Far-side Impacts

Abstract

STRUCTURED ABSTRACT Objective The study was conducted to determine the association between vehicle-, crash- and demographic-related factors and injuries to front seat far-side occupants in modern environments. Methods Field data were obtained from the United States (US) National Automotive Sampling System – Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) database, for the years 2009–2012. Inclusion factors: adult restrained front outboard seated occupants, no ejection or rollovers, and vehicle model years less than 10 years old at the time of crash. Far-side crashes were determined by using collision deformation classification. Injuries were scored using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Injuries (MAIS2+, MAIS3+, M denotes maximum score) were examined based on demographics, change in velocity, vehicle type, direction of force, extent zone, collision partner and presence of another occupant in the front seat. Only weighted data were used in the analysis. Injuries to the head and face, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, upper extremity and lower extremity regions were studied. Odds ratios and upper and lower confidence intervals were estimated from multivariate analysis. Results Out of 519,195 far-side occupants, 17,715 were MAIS2+ and 4,387 were MAIS3+ level injured occupants. The mean age, stature, total body mass, and BMI were 40.7 years, 1.7 m, 77.2 kg, and 26.8 kg/m2, respectively. Of occupants with MAIS2+ injuries, 51% had head and 19% had thorax injuries. Of occupants with MAIS 3+ injuries, 50% had head and 69% had thorax injuries. The cumulative distribution of changes in velocities at the 50th percent level for the struck vehicle for all occupants and, MAIS2+ and MAIS3+ occupants were 19, 34 and 42 km/h, respectively. Furthermore, 73% of MAIS2+ injuries and 86% of MAIS3+ injuries occurred at a change in velocity of 24 km/h or greater. Odds of sustaining MAIS2+ and MAIS3+ injuries increased with unit increase in change in velocity, stature and age, with one exception. Odds of sustaining injuries were higher with the presence of an occupant in the front seat at the MAIS3+ level, although it was reversed at the lower level. The extent zone of 3+ increased the odds compared to the extent zones of 1 to 2 at both MAIS2+ and MAIS3+ injuries. Odds ratios and confidence interval are given. Conclusions Findings that head and thorax are more frequently injured body regions, prevalence of cranium injuries are similar at both injury severities; thoracic injuries are more prevalent at the MAIS3+ level; presence of another front seat occupant plays a role in MAIS3+ trauma; injuries continue to occur at change in velocities representative of side impact environments; mean demographic factors are close to mid-size automotive anthropometry, indicate the need to pursue this line of study. Because data were gathered from only four years, it would be important to include additional NASS-CDS database years, rescore injuries from previous years and/or analyze other international databases to reinforce these findings for advancing safety ...

THOR dummy chest deflection response in oblique and lateral far-side sled tests

“…An analysis of the NASS-CDS database for the years 2009-2012 showed that the extent zone of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 3þ increased the odds of MAIS 2þ and MAIS 3þ injuries compared to zones 1 to 2 (Yoganandan et al 2014). The placement of the far-side door structure in this study was close to the SAE J224 side deformation classification extent zone 3.…”

“…The 45 orientation of the sled buck system closely reproduced occupant kinematics for most angled far-side impact scenarios (Arun et al 2017). Based on field studies, 50% of Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) 3þ injuries in far-side crashes occur at delta-Vs between 7.8 and 11.7 m/s Gabler, Fitzharris, et al 2005;Yoganandan et al 2014).…”

“…The thorax and head are the 2 most commonly injured body regions in this mode. For example, in an analysis of the NASS database for the years 2009-2012, far-side occupant injuries were analyzed for impact vectors corresponding to 260 to 310 s representing the right front passenger and 50 to 100 s for the driver seating position, representative of U.S. driving conditions (Yoganandan et al 2014). The authors reported that, of occupants sustaining injuries scored at the MAIS 2þ level, approximately one half had head injuries and approximately one fifth had thorax injuries.…”

The relationship between weight indices and injuries and mortalities caused by the motor vehicle accidents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The index of severity of injuries in these studies includes AIS and ISS. The relationship between obesity and severity of injuries was reported to be negative in four studies (Mock, Grossman et al, 2002, Arbabi, Wahl et al, 2003, Yoganandan, Arun et al, 2014, Liu, Rau et al, 2016. In other studies, this relationship was positive.…”

Profile of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in relation with maxillofacial and thoracic injury Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung

“…Th most affected body organs are the head and thorax. 3 Thoracic injuries patients commonly have been linked with TBI. 4 Thorax-only blast injury apparatus and a jugular-only blast injury apparatus was constructed to see if the wave from a thoracic injury would transmit to the brain and how the direct wave at the cranium causes the brain injury.…”