This paper presents the results of a study of the epidemiology of moderate and minor head and neck injuries in accidents in two cities in northern Sweden. Special note was made of any differences between the sexes in the distribution of age, and in the circumstances under which such injuries were sustained. All patients aged 15-65 years were selected from the hospitals' injury register during July 1988 to June 1990, who were seeking emergency attention after moderate or minor head or neck injury. Injuries were classified according to type of injury, type of accident, and age group. 1568 injury accidents were analysed, using statistical significance tests. 867 (55%) of the accidents were sustained by men and 701 (45%) by women. 35% of the men's injuries and 43% of the women's injuries were neck injuries. 60% of all the accidents and 85% of the neck injuries were vehicle-associated. Several sex differences were found in the causes of injuries sustained in traffic accidents. Women's greater vulnerability should be considered. Relevant factors include: exposure, cars' safety equipment, physical differences, and differences in behaviour and lifestyle. This emphasises the need to expand accident analyses to include the gender and age of all people involved; more detail is also required in injury registration.
Abstract