Injuries will inevitably occur when restraining loads are exerted on a car occupant by a seat belt during a crash. This study investigated the nature, frequency, and severity of such injuries to the chest and abdomen. Vehicle, occupant, and injury details were obtained from accidents occurring in the Midlands of England. The sample was chosen with emphasis on fatal and serious injuries while also representing slight injuries as rated by the British government scheme. All causes of injuries to 3, 276 front-seat restrained occupants wereconsidered. 29.6% had a minor (Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 1) injury caused by seat belt loading, more than from any other cause. The study went on to focus on 1, 025 occupants sustaining injuries caused solely by seat belt loading. Of those, 19.4% sustained chest/abdominal injuries rated at Maximum AIS greater than or equal to 2 with sternum fractures predominating, and 4.5% were rated at Maximum AIS greater than or equal to 3. Occupants were not excluded if they had injuries at other body regions enabling the frequency and severity of head injuries to be considered also. The role played by impact type, speed change at impact, seat belt usage problems, and some aspects of occupant characteristics were investigated. These included sex, age, and occupant height and weight.
Samenvatting