Motor vehicle collision factors influence severity and type of TBI.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the relationship between motor vehicle collision factors and TBI.


METHODS
Retrospective design analysed the difference between the types of brain injuries sustained in distinct collision configurations.


METHODS
Medical charts and police accident reports were reviewed for individuals sustaining TBI in 168 motor vehicle collisions between 1985-1998.


RESULTS
Lateral collisions and collisions involving contact with a fixed object were associated with the most severe brain injuries. Analysis of safety restraints revealed that seatbelts not only reduce the probability of injury, but they also mediate the severity of brain injury when it is sustained.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research should focus the prevention of injury by better defining the minimum physical thresholds at which brain injury might be sustained and the mechanisms by which these thresholds are achieved during natural collisions.
Hillary
Frank G
FG
University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, NJ, USA. fhillary@kmrrec.org
Schatz
Philip
P
Moelter
Stephen T
ST
Lowry
Jody B
JB
Ricker
Joseph H
JH
Chute
Douglas L
DL
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012622:Seat Belts; D012720:Severity of Illness Index