The purpose of this scientific poster is to determine whether sternal fracture (SF) is less likely to be a marker of severe injury in belted versus unbelted occupants. The National Accident Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) was used. NASS (weighted) 1993-1994 includes 4,137,707 total crashes with 8,420,914 total occupants. The total number of occupants sustaining SFs was 20,132. These patients sustained a total of 46,770 injuries Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) equal to or greater than 2. SF occurred in 15,838 occupants with seatbelts and in 3,977 occupants without seatbelts. Unbelted SF patients were more likely to die, and when hospitalized, remained in hospital for more than three days than belted SF patients. Unbelted SF patients were also more likely to have all grades (AIS 2-6) of head, chest and abdominal injuries than belted SF patients. Unbelted SF occupants were much more likely than belted occupants to sustain severe associated injuries. The data point out a great disparity between the anticipated severity of injury in SF patients based on belt use. The data suggest that belted SF occupants may not necessarily have other severe injuries and that SF may result from a direct force from the seatbelt, allowing the patient to avoid other injury.
Abstract