The researchers examined 631 occupants in the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network database entered between 1996 and 2011. Among them, 299 sustained major injuries. The researchers found:
• Flexion-distraction injuries more common among children and young adults
• Extension injuries more common among older adults
• Average BMI for occupants with extension injuries was 56
• Fatality among patients with extension injuries was 23.8 percent — much higher than the entire cohort at 10.9 percent.
• Most frequent spinal injuries involved the chest
• Minor thoracic and lumbar injuries had greater association with abdominal injuries.
• 35.3 percent of occupants wearing a three-point seat belt sustained thoracic and lumbar injuries, compared with 11.6 percent who were unbelted.
• Individuals with three-point seat belts were more likely to sustain burst fractures.
• Individuals with two-point seat belts were more likely to sustain flexion-distraction injuries.
• The most common injury among unbelted individuals was fracture-dislocation of the thoracic and lumbar spine.
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