The objective of this research was to examine the difference in force mechanisms between fatal and potentially survivable motor vehicle crash (MVC) aortic injuries (AI) compared to non-AI severe thoracic injuries (ST). Of 324 autopsied MVC driver or front seat passenger fatalities (1997-2000), there were 43 fatal AI (36 scene deaths, 7 hospital deaths) and 5 additional AI survivors. Of the 48 AI, there was only a 42% survival rate for those reaching the hospital alive. The data suggest different mechanisms of force delivery and injury patterns in fatal vs potentially survivable AI, and vs ST MVCs. They suggest that an approach to improving vehicle safety measures for AI may involve better safety devices and mechanisms for reducing that fraction of the force that is focused on the upper portion of the subject's thoracic cage between the levels of ribs 1-8. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting