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Airbags, seatbelts reduced likelihood of facial fractures in motor vehicle collisions

Airbags and seatbelts, alone and especially in combination, reduced the likelihood of facial fractures for patients who presented to U.S. trauma centers after motor vehicle collisions, according to research recently published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Researchers retrospectively evaluated 518,106 patients treated after motor vehicle collisions between 2007 and 2012 in level I, II, III and IV trauma centers in the United States. Data were analyzed between March and September 2015. ICD-9 codes were used to characterized data by subsite of facial injury. Influences of variables were measured.

There were 56,422 patients (10.9%) who experienced at least one facial fracture.

The most common facial fracture was nasal fracture (5.6%). Midface fractures made up 3.8% of fractures; other, 3.2%; orbital 2.6%; mandible, 2.2%; and panfacial, 0.8%.

Among all patients presenting after motor vehicle collisions, 42.6% had used no protective device, while 5.1% had airbag deployment only, 36.3% used seatbelt without airbag deployment and 15.5% used both types of protective devices. Among the subset with at least one facial injury, 5.8% had airbag protection only, 26.9% used seat belt protection only, 9.3% used both protective devices and 56.7% used no protective device.

The likelihood of facial fracture after a motor vehicle collision was significantly reduced by the use of airbag alone (OR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.79-0.86) and the use of seat belt alone (OR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.56-0.58). The greatest odds reduction came with use of both devices (OR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.45-0.48) when compared with no protective device.

After adjustment for other variables, there was an association with increased likelihood of facial fracture with male sex (OR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.36-1.42) and alcohol use (OR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.43-1.49).

There was a reduction of likelihood of facial fractures across all Injury Severity Score subgroups for older age and use of protective devices.

“Airbags, seat belts and the combination of the two devices incrementally reduce the likelihood of facial fracture compared with no protective device,” the researchers concluded. “This trend may be owing to recent advances in airbag technology during the last 10 to 15 years.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.