TY - JOUR PY - 1985// TI - Head and neck injuries in traffic accidents in goeteborg in 1983 JO - Proceedings of the International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury conference A1 - Bunketorp, Olle B. A1 - Romanus, Bertil A1 - Kroon, P.o. SP - 1 EP - 16 VL - 13 IS - N2 - A hospital-based registration of traffic accident casualties was introduced in Goeteborg in 1979. From 1983 the data of this register and the accident data recorded by the police can be matched and analyzed with a computer program developed in cooperation with the Traffic Planning Department of the Town Planning Council of Goeteborg. The data base contains 1,856 casualties from 1983. Head injuries are common in traffic accidents and they can constitute a great threat to life. Neck injuries are less common but these include critical injuries to the medulla oblongata caused by fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine. Most of the neck injuries are sustained by car occupants. The symptoms of neck injuries are not always noted immediately but there is a considerable risk of prolonged disability in some of these cases. The purpose of this paper is to describe the epidemiology of head and neck injuries in urban traffic and to identify accident factors and trauma mechanisms which may correlate with an increased risk of serious injuries and permanent impairment. (TRRL)

LA - en SN - 2235-3151 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -