[Injury pattern in fatal automobile accident passengers due to rear-end collisions].
The article reports on the injury pattern seen in fatally wounded car passengers after rear-end collisions on motorways. The study material included 5 rear-end collisions, in which 9 car occupants (5 drivers and 4 front-seat passengers) were killed. The change in velocity (delta v) was above 60 km/h in all the reported cases. The injury pattern showed the following characteristics: extensive soft-tissue traumatization (subcutaneous haematomas, blood-filled pockets, "décollements") not discernible from outside on the back of the trunk, mostly in the lumbosacral region; dorsal serial rib fractures, often combined with fractures of the spine (including the sacrum and the coccyx) and/or the pelvis; ruptures of the aorta at the typical sites of predisposition; ruptures of the liver and spleen (particularly at the visceral surfaces).
Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universität Freiburg.
Hadi
H
Nadjem
Dirk
D
Ropohl
Stefan
S
Pollak
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000401:mortality*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002423:Cause of Death; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology