Cranial-vertebral fractures and dislocations associated with steering wheel airbag deployment.

From field investigations of 477 airbag deployments a number of cervical and craniocervical fractures and dislocations have been identified. Case histories of these injury types are presented. Injury mechanism appears to be due to distraction of the upper cervical at the junction of the base of the skull from upward forces produced by the airbag in association with possible airbag-chest interaction that augments the distraction forces. (A)