Air Bags, Seat Belts Important In Preventing Spine Fractures

New research published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine provides new evidence that the combination of air bags and seat belts affords the best protection against spine fractures sustained in motor vehicle crashes. This research examined the records of more than 20,000 crash victims age 16 and older admitted to Wisconsin hospitals after car or truck crashes from 1994 to 2002.

Data on the correlation between the incidence of spine fracture and air bag and seat belt usage was analyzed. Key research findings include: Use of a seat belt and an air bag together was associated with a decreased risk of a spine fracture, including more severe fractures. 12.5% of the accidents resulted in a spine fracture. Only 14 percent of the drivers and front seat occupants involved in the motor vehicle crashes between 1994 and 2002 were protected by the combination of air bags and seat belts, although this number increased from 1994 to 2002. 38 percent of these crash victims were not wearing seat belts.

Of the 2,530 spine fractures, 1,067 were cervical fractures, 565 were thoracic fractures, and were 1,034 lumbosacral fractures. Use of an air bag alone was associated with an increased risk of a severe thoracic spine fracture.