title: Lower limb and associated injuries in frontal-impact road traffic collisions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship between severity of injury of the lower limb and severity of injury of the head, thoracic, and abdominal regions in frontal-impact road traffic collisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive hospitalised trauma patients who were involved in a frontal road traffic collision were prospectively studied over 18 months. Patients with at least one Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) ≥3 or AIS 2 injuries within two AIS body regions were included. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the severity of injury to the head, chest or abdomen. Low severity group had an AIS < 2 and high severity group had an AIS ≥ 2. Backward likelihood logistic regression models were used to define significant factors affecting the severity of head, chest or abdominal injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-five patients were studied. The backward likelihood logistic regression model defining independent factors affecting severity of head injuries was highly significant (p =0.01, nagelkerke r square = 0.1) severity of lower limb injuries was the only significant factor (p=0.013) having a negative correlation with head injury (Odds ratio of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.45-0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupants who sustain a greater severity of injury to the lower limb in a frontal-impact collision are likely to be spared from a greater severity of head injury.
authors.affiliation: Royal Bolton Hospital, Farnworth, Bolton, United Kingdom; Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE.
authors.forename: Mohannad B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ammori
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE.
authors.forename: Hani O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE.
authors.forename: Fikri M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Abu-Zidan
mesh_terms: D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Frontal-impact; lower limb injury; road traffic collision