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Abstract
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PURPOSE: This is a descriptive study of the annual incidence of brain injuries in motor vehicle crashes by type, seatbelt use and crash severity (delta V) using national accident data. The risk for concussion, diffuse axonal injury (DAI) and severe head injury was determined.
METHODS: 1994-2011 NASS-CDS (National Automotive Sampling System - Crashworthiness Data System) was analyzed to estimate the number of brain injuries annually in non-ejected adults involved in motor vehicle crashes. Crashes were grouped by front, side, rear and rollover, and the effect of belt use was investigated. Light vehicles were included with model year 1994+. Head injuries were identified as concussion, DAI, severe head injury (AIS 4+) and skull fracture. The annual incidence, risk and rate for different types of head injury were estimated with standard errors.
RESULTS: Motor vehicle crashes involved 33,191 ± 7,815 occupants with concussion, 5,665 ± 996 with AIS 4+ head injuries, 986 ± 446 with DAI, and 3,300 ± 531 with skull fracture annually. The risk was 1.64% ± 0.39% for concussion, 0.28% ± 0.05% for severe head injury (AIS 4+), 0.05% ± 0.02% for DAI and 0.16% ± 0.03% for skull fracture in tow-away crashes. The risk for severe head injury (AIS 4+) was highest in rollovers (0.74% ± 0.16%) and lowest in rear impacts (0.17% ± 0.05%). Head injury risk depended on seatbelt use, crash type and crash severity (delta V). Seatbelt use lowered the risk for AIS 4+ head injury by 74.8% and skull fracture by 73.2%.
CONCLUSIONS: Concussions occur in about one out of 61 occupants in tow-away crashes. The risk was highest in rollover crashes (4.73% ± 1.09%) and it was reduced 69.2% by seatbelt use. Severe brain injuries occurred less often and the risk was also reduced by seatbelt use.
Language: en |