Arnold W. Siegel

Biodynamics of injury to the larynx in automobile collisions.

In view of the magnitude of traffic accident injuries, it is both surpnsmg and fortunate that injuries to the upper respiratory tract are relatively infrequent. However, since the consequences of such injuries in terms of morbidity and mortality are so great, early recognition and effective treatment are vital to consider. It is appropriate to preface such considerations with a discussion of the mechanics of injury causation and methods of prevention.

The reduction of collision injuries: past, present, and future

THIS PAPER REPRESENTS A DISTILLATION AND ANALYSIS OF COLLISION INJURY CASES COLLECTED BY THE UCLA TRAUMA RESEARCH GROUP FROM 1960-69. INJURIES ARE INTERPRETED WITH RELATION TO SPECIFIC VARIABLES WHICH ARE THOUGHT TO REPRESENT IMPORTANT FACTORS IN COLLISION INJURY CAUSATION AND PREVENTION. THE METHODOLOGY IS PRESENTED AS ONE POSSIBLE WAY TO VIEW TRANSPORTATION TRAUMA IN TERMS OF FACTORS WHICH CAN BE ISOLATED AND MAY LEND THEMSELVES TO MANIPULATION IN THE CAUSE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY. THE PAPER CONCENTRATES ON SURVIVABLE INJURIES, IN PART BECAUSE MEASUREMENT OF DEATH ALONE FAILS TO INDICATE DEGREES OF INJURY SEVERITY, AND ALSO BECAUSE DEATH RATES HAVE PROVEN TO BE INSENSITIVE TO MAJOR CHANGES IN INJURY CAUSATION. THE SECOND PART OF THIS PAPER ATTEMPTS TO RELATE INJURY RATES TO ANATOMIC DISTRIBUTION, SPECIFIC AREAS OF VEHICLE DESIGN, AND DISTRIBUTION OF INJURY SEVERITIES FOR SELECTION GROUPS OF SEAT LOCATIONS. /AUTHOR/

INJURIES IN UNDERRIDE-OVERRIDE COLLISIONS-A CLINICAL STUDY

AUTOMOBILES DAMAGED IN COLLISIONS IN WHICH THE MAIN VEHICLE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN UNDERRIDDEN OR OVERRIDDEN WERE STUDIED, AS WELL AS INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS OF THE AUTOMOBILES. THE PARAMETERS THAT AFFECT INJURIES ARE LISTED AND DISCUSSED, AS ARE THE EFFECTS OF THESE PARAMETERS FOR EACH CASE EXAMPLE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR MODIFICATIONS OF PASSENGER CARS, TRUCKS, TRAILERS, AND HIGHWAY FURNITURE TO MITIGATE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY IN UNDERRIDE-OVERRIDE COLLISIONS. /SAE/

Case Comparisons of Restrained and Nonrestrained Occupants and Related Injury Patterns

RESTRAINING DEVICES CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF LESSENING INJURIES IN AUTOMOBILE COLLISIONS. EVIDENCE FROM THE TRAUMA RESEARCH GROUPS CASE FILES ILLUSTRATES HOW INJURY IS AVOIDED OR MINIMIZED BY USE OF LAP, SHOULDER, AND DIAGONAL SEAT BELTS IN SEVERAL TYPES OF CRASHES, UNDER VARIOUS ANGLES OF IMPACT. PREVENTION OF FATAL EJECTION, THE IMPROVED CHANCES RESTRAINED DRIVER HAS OF RETAINING CONTROL OF HIS CAR, AND THE ATTENUATION OF INTERIOR COLLISION FORCES, SUCH AS RESULT IN JACKKNIFING ARE TOPICS DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS THE CONTRIBUTION OF MAJOR AUTOMOBILE DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS. /AUTHOR/

VEHICLE POSTCOLLISION CONSIDERATIONS

THE RELATIONSHIP OF VEHICLE DESIGN TO HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IS EXAMINED, INSOFAR AS THEIR RELATIONSHIP AFFECTS INJURY AND THE SUBSEQUENT SURVIVAL OF THE OCCUPANTS IN THE POSTCOLLISION PHASE. THE POST-IMPACT PHASE IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR TIME PERIODS: ZERO TIME; A FEW MINUTES AFTER IMPACT; RESCUE OPERATIONS; TOW SERVICE AND SITE CLEAN-UP. HISTORICALLY, ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED UPON MEDICAL PROBLEMS OF EXTRICATION AND TRANSPORTATION OF THE INJURED. POST-COLLISION DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND INFORMATION NEEDS ARE SUGGESTED. SEVENTEEN SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR REDUCING INJURIES AND MAKING ESCAPE FROM WRECKED VEHICLES EASIER. /HSL/