Cranial-vertebral fractures and dislocations associated with steering wheel airbag deployment

Huelke, Donald F.; Reed, Richard T.

Affiliations

¹University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

²U.S. Department of Transportation United States

Abstract

From field investigations of 477 airbag deployments a number of cervical and craniocervícal fractures and dislocations have been identified. Case histories of these injury types will be presented. Injury mechanism appears to be due to distraction of the upper cervical at the junction of the base of the skull from upward forces produced by the airbag in association with possible airbag-chest interaction that augments the distraction forces.

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Cited By (4)

Year	Entry
1996	Huelke DF, Reed RT. Front seat passengers and airbag deployments. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.116-121.
1998	Berg FA, Schmitt B, Epple J, Mattern R, Kallieris D. Results of full-scale crash tests, statzonary tests and sled tests to analyse the effects of air bags on passengers with or without seat belts in the standard sitting position and in out-of-position situations. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.1055-1070.
1998	Morris A, Fildes B, Digges K, Dalmotas D, Langwieder K. Injuries in primary and supplementary airbag systems. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.983-988.
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