Injuries to pregnant occupants in automotive crashes

Klinich, Kathleen DeSantis<sup>1</sup>; Schneider, Lawrence W.<sup>1</sup>; Moore, Jamie L.<sup>1</sup>; Pearlman, Mark D.<sup>1</sup>

Affiliations

¹University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Abstract

Injuries unique to pregnant occupants involved in motor-vehicle crashes include placental abruption, uterine rupture or laceration, and direct fetal injury. The mechanisms and characteristics of these injuries are discussed using examples from a literature review and from recent investigations of crashes involving pregnant occupants. In addition, a review of the relationship between the pregnant driver and automotive restraints and the steering wheel illustrates how injury potential may differ from the non-pregnant occupant.

Links

PubMedCentral: PMC3400205

Cited Works (2)

Year	Entry
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Cited By (5)

Year	Entry
2003	Moorcroft DM, Stitzel JD, Duma GG, Duma SM. Computational model of the pregnant occupant: predicting the risk of injury in automobile crashes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. August 2003;189(2):540-544.
1999	Weiss HB. The epidemiology of traumatic injury-related fetal mortality in Pennsylvania, 1995–1997: the role of motor vehicle crashes. In: 43rd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 20-21, 1999; Barcelon, Spain.57-70.
2000	Klinich KD, Schneider LW, Moore JL, Pearlman MD. Investigations of crashes involving pregnant occupants. In: 44th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 2-4, 2000; Chicago, IL.
2002	Weiss HB, Lawrence B, Miller T. Prevalence and risk of hospitalized pregnant occupants in car crashes. In: 46th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 30–October 2, 2002; Tempe, AZ.
2008	Manoogian SJ. Protecting the Pregnant Occupant: Dynamic Material Properties of Uterus and Placenta [PhD thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; May 29, 2008.