This brief article presents a case where use of an airbag by thedriver reduced the severity of his injuries in comparison to those sustained by his front seat passenger, who was unrestrained. The twomen were driving in a 1990 Cadillac Seville and struck a wall in a head on collision at about 30-35 mph. The car sustained substantial front end damage. Neither passenger nor driver was using a seatbelt, but the driver was protected by a properly functioning airbag. The 79 year old driver sustained a 8 cm laceration of his right thigh associated with a comminuted right midshaft femur fracture and a displaced right intertrochanteric fracture Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 9. His 89 year old passenger (his brother) sustained facial and extremity fractures and severe lacerations. Injuries included a nasal septal fracture and a Le Forte type 2 fracture, multiple right tibiaand fibular fractures, comminuted left femur and fibular fractures and a displaced right collar fracture. ISS was 26. He never regainedfull mobility and remained in hospital 2 weeks longer than his brother, who made a full recovery
Abstract