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Thoracic and lumbar fractures not uncommon in older adults following motor vehicle crashes
Even with the use of seatbelts, adults older than the age of 65 years sustained thoracic and lumbar spine injuries due to motor vehicle collisions, according to data in a recently published retrospective study.
Researchers used the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network database to retrospectively analyze information for subjects aged 65 years and older who had thoracic and lumbar spine injuries from motor vehicle collisions. The study included 661 elderly subjects, of which 142 sustained thoracic and lumbar spine injuries from a collision. There were 63 compression fractures, 20 burst fractures and 12 extension fractures among the injuries, researchers reported.
Study data showed seatbelt use predisposed subjects to compression and burst fractures. Airbag and seatbelt use predisposed a subject to burst fractures. The deployment of an airbag without seatbelt use predisposed a subject to higher Injury Severity Scores, and higher rates of mortality and neurological injury, the researchers wrote.
The researchers wrote that the study “[found] the lowest incidence of spinal cord injury in the subgroup where both 3-point belts and airbags were used (4.29%; 3/70). On the other hand, airbag deployment in unbelted subjects was associated with the highest rate of neurological injury (25%; 4/16).” – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: Researchers reported receiving support from the US DOT NHTSA CIREN research funds DTNH22–10-H-00292 and by the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Research. National Highway Transport Safety Administration funds were received in support of this work.