This scientific poster presents the initial phase of an ongoing study to examine the occurrence of liver/spleen injuries for front seat occupants wearing two-point and three-point passive restraint systems, and three-point manual systems. The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) was used. The data from the states of Utah and New York were included. In 1991, there were 98,373 police reported accidents in Utah. Of these, 10,744 records were linked with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) records, 9,311 were linked with outpatient records and 1,103 were linked with hospital (inpatient) records. For the state of New York in 1992, there were 502,744 passenger vehicles involved in accidents out of which 59,327 were in accidents out of which 59,327 were linked to EMS records and 8,914 were linked to acute care (hospital) records. All the inpatient records that were linked to crash files were used to obtain exposure data on occupants admitted to hospitals. All front seat occupants sustaining serious injuries that warranted hospitalization were included. The preliminary findings show that of the 137 front seat belted occupants incurring liver/spleen injuries, there was no measurable difference in injury rates among occupants wearing two-point and three-point restraint systems.
Abstract