title: Spinal injury patterns resulting from car and motorcycle accidents.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective data analysis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine spinal injury patterns and clinical outcomes in patients involved in automotive accidents.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The records of 22,858 patients collected prospectively as part of the Trauma Audit Research Network (UK) Database (1993-2000).
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of the records of 1121 motorcyclists and 2718 car occupants involved in automotive trauma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spinal injury occurred in 126 (11.2%) motorcyclists and 383 (14.1%) car occupants. Victims were predominantly young (mean ages: motorcycle 30.2 years, car 37.8 years) and male (motorcycle 88.9%, car 60.6%). The mean Injury Severity Scores were 18.8 and 15.1, respectively. Isolated spinal injuries occurred in 30 (23.8%) motorcyclists and 130 (33.9%) car occupants. The thoracic spine was most commonly injured in motorcyclists (54.8%), and the cervical spine was most commonly injured in car occupants (50.7%). Multiple regions were injured in 14 (10.3%) motorcyclists and 33 (8.5%) car occupants. Nine motorcyclists and 43 car occupants required spinal surgery. Median hospital stays were 11.5 days (range 0-235 days) and 10 days (range 0-252 days) in the motorcyclists and car occupants, respectively. There were 13 (10.3%) motorcycle- and 26 (6.8%) car-related deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spinal injury patterns may reflect differing mechanisms of injury between the restrained car occupant and unrestrained motorcyclist. The motorcyclists were more severely injured, had more extremity trauma, a higher mortality rate, and a spinal injury pattern consistent with forced hyperflexion of the thoracic spine. The predominance of cervical injuries and higher incidence of neck and facial injuries in car occupants may reflect abdominothoracic seat belt restraint. The high frequency of multilevel injuries reaffirms the need for vigilance in patient assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom. arobertson@rcsed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Angus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Toby
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Branfoot
authors.forename: Ian F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Giannoudis
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D009049:Motorcycles; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*