title: [Protective air bags in traffic accidents. Change in the injury pattern and reduction in the severity of injuries].
abstract: The effectiveness of air bags, drivers-side and passenger-side, as an additional passive safety system in motor vehicles was tested in a collective study in which 47 trauma centers in Germany participated. The inquiry was answered by 80% of 181 hospitals. The evaluation of a total of 119 air bag-protected patients involved in accidents, who were treated in German trauma centers in the year 1993 shows predominant minor injuries on the head-, cervical- and thorax-region. Some patients had superficial injuries caused by air bag in their face and chest area, such as abrasions and contusions. It is notable, that a large number of patients continue to suffer severe injuries (AIS 3+) in their lower extremities. The trend of the industry to equip more and more vehicles with air bags must be sustained. According to manufacturer statements, in 1994 already more than 60% of all mass produced vehicles in Germany will be provided with this modern passive safety system.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Unfallchirurgie, Chirurgische Universitätsklinik Freiburg.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kuner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schlickewei
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oltmanns
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D017278:Air Bags; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
vernacular_title: Der Airbagschutz beim Verkehrsunfall. Anderung im Verletzungsmuster und Reduktion der Verletzungsschwere.