This study investigates the nature and severity of seat belt induced injuries to the chest and abdomen in car crashes. Injury and occupant details were obtained from crashes that occurred in the Midlands of England between November 1983 and August 1990, involving 3276 front seat car occupants. Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 1 injuries to the chest and abdomen were found to be very common. 6.1% of the total database were found to have sustained an AIS equal to or greater than 2 injury to either the chest or abdomen caused only by the seat belt, the majority of these injuries being fractures to the ribs and sternum. The chest was more frequently injured than the abdomen. Types of injury, trends in injury severities, and factors such as speed change and occupant characteristics are discussed. 0.4% of occupants on the database sustained fatal injuries from their seat belt.
Samenvatting