Maxillofacial injuries following steering wheel contact by drivers using seat belts.

Abstract

Maxillofacial injuries are common sequelae in road traffic accidents. For the restrained driver, impact against the steering wheel is the most prevalent cause of injury. A sample of drivers restrained by seat belts with facial injury caused by the steering wheel was taken from data at the Accident Research Unit, University of Birmingham, UK. Two hundred and forty facial injuries occurred in 135 drivers, and these are described. Superficial contusion, laceration and nasal fractures predominated. There were 504 injuries at other body regions, and these were often caused by other vehicle components. These were, for 57% of drivers, no more serious than the facial injury caused by steering wheel contact. The role of steering wheel design in maxillofacial trauma is discussed and new solutions briefly reviewed.

• Authors: S Rogers, J R Hill, G M Mackay
• Journal: The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery (Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. 24-30 (Feb 1992) ISSN: 0266-4356 [Print] Scotland
• PMID: 1550802 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Metals
• Plastics

Topics

• Abbreviated Injury Scale
• Automobile Driving
• Automobiles
• England (epidemiology)
• Equipment Design
• Facial Bones (injuries)
• Facial Injuries (epidemiology)
• Hardness
• Humans
• Maxillofacial Injuries (epidemiology)
• Metals
• Plastics
• Seat Belts
• Skull Fractures (epidemiology)
• Surface Properties
• Wood