@article{ref1,
title="Neck injury to car occupants using seat belts",
journal="Proceedings: American Association for Automotive Medicine Annual Conference",
year="1985",
author="Larder, DR and Twiss, MK and Mackay, G. Murray",
volume="29",
number="",
pages="153-165",
abstract="This paper presents data on some aspects of neck injuries which occur to car occupants where the use of lap/shoulder seat belts is over 90%. The data came from in-depth crash investigation studies conducted during 1984, after the passage of the seat belt law in Britain. 15% of the occupants in the sample (which is weighted towards fatal and serious cases) had a neck injury, but of these only 15% were severe enough to warrant an AIS rating of 1 or greater. The problems of defining the non-specific symptoms of minor soft tissue neck injuries, below the definition of acute neck strain necessary for AIS 1, are discussed. A subset of cases were followed up using a questionnaire technique. Females showed a higher incidence of minor neck strain but no age effect was detected. Head restraint presence was not a factor; most of the impacts were frontal. In two thirds of the cases there was no head contact. Almost 40% had neck pain lasting for at least a month and 8% had symptoms lasting for longer than 6 months. 34% used a neck collar for a period. It is concluded that these minor neck injuries are a real feature of restrained occupants surviving relatively severe crashes, and because of delayed onset of symptoms they are under-reported. They present a classification problem which is best addressed by the development of a disability scale.   <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0892-6484",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}