TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Seatbelt use to save face: impact on drivers' body region and nature of injury in motor vehicle crashes
JO  - Traffic injury prevention
A1  - Han, Guang-Ming
A1  - Newmyer, Ashley
A1  - Qu, Ming
SP  - 605
EP  - 610
VL  - 16
IS  - 6
N2  - Background. Seatbelt use is the single most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in motor vehicle crashes. However, some case reports described seatbelt use as a double-edged sword because some injuries are related to seatbelt use in motor vehicle crashes. To comprehensively understand the effects of seatbelt use, we systemically investigated the association between seatbelt use and injuries based on anatomic body region and type of injury in drivers who involved in motor vehicle crashes. <br><br>METHODS. The injury information was obtained by linking crash reports with hospital discharge data and categorized by using the diagnosis codes based on the Barell injury diagnosis matrix. 10,479 drivers (≥15 years) in passenger vehicles involved in motor vehicle crashes from 2006 to 2011 were included in this study. <br><br>RESULTS. Seatbelt use significantly reduced the proportions of traumatic brain injury (10.4% non-seatbelt; 4.1% seatbelt) and other head, face, and neck injury (29.3% non-seatbelt; 16.6% seatbelt), while increased the proportion of spine: thoracic to coccyx injury (17.9% non-seatbelt; 35.5% seatbelt). Although the proportion of spine: thoracic to coccyx injury was increased in drivers with seatbelt use, the severity of injury was decreased, such as fracture (4.2% with seatbelt use; 22.0% without seatbelt use). Furthermore, the total medical charges decreased due to the change of injury profiles in drivers with seatbelt use from higher percent of fracture (average cost for per case $26,352) to higher percent of sprains or/and strains ($1,897) with spine: thoracic to coccyx injury. <br><br>CONCLUSION. This study provide a comprehensive picture for understanding the protective effect of seatbelt use on injuries based on anatomic body region and type of injury in drivers who involved in motor vehicle crashes.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1538-9588
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2014.999856
ID  - ref1
ER  -