title: Cardiac injuries in car occupants in fatal motor vehicle collisions--an autopsy-based study.
abstract: Motor vehicle accidents contribute widely to population morbidity and mortality around the world, and cardiac injuries are a major factor determining outcome. Autopsy reports from 380 motor vehicle occupants who died in motor vehicle crashes in Adelaide, Australia, and Hamburg, Germany, over a 6-year period were reviewed, analysing the presence and type of cardiac injuries and their correlation with factors such as crash type, presence of seatbelt/airbag and vehicle speed as well as with the presence of other injuries which might predict the presence of cardiac injuries in a clinical setting. 21.1% had cardiac injuries identified macroscopically autopsy or histology. Cardiac injuries were the only cause of death or contributed to a fatal outcome in 76% of these cases. Sternal fractures and left-sided serial rib fractures were predictive of cardiac injury.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany. elisabeth.tuerk@uks.eu
authors.forename: Elisabeth E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Turk
authors.forename: Yee-Wah
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Anisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Champaneri
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pueschel
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Byard
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult