[Usefulness of seat belts in the prevention of facial fractures].
In the first quarter of 1985, the use of the seat belts in every car was compulsory as disposed by law and it was discontinued afterwards. The authors correlate the number and type of facial fractures in patients admitted to the Emergency unit of the Hospital das Clínicas of University of São Paulo Medical School, during the first quarter of 1984, 1985 and 1986. A significant decrease of the number of cases and the severity of the facial fractures during the 1985 period was observed and, more important, a decrease was noted on the proportion of the nasal and fronto-orbital fractures among the overall number of fractures of the face. There was thus a significant relationship between the use of belts and the number and severity of the facial fractures.
Gemperli
R
R
Disciplina de Cirurgia Plástica e Queimaduras, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo.
de Lourenço
L A
LA
Lee
Y S
YS
Ferreira
M C
MC
Lodovici
O
O
D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012622:Seat Belts; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control*
A utilidade do cinto de segurança na prevenção das fraturas da face.