Effectiveness of seatbelts in mitigating traumatic brain injury severity

摘要

Over the past few decades, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have become one of the leading causes of death and the leading cause of injury-related death in the USA.[1,2] It is estimated that 1.70 million people are subject to TBIs each year.[2] Males are more likely to sustain TBIs (59%); the most common age groups are 0–5 years, 15–19 years, and >65 years.[2] Approximately 1.36 million people present to the emergency department (ED), 275,000 are admitted to the hospital, and 52,000 people die from TBIs.[2] The leading causes of TBIs are falling (35.2%), motor vehicle collisions (MVCs, 17.3%), struck by/against an object (16.5%), and assault (10.0%).[2] These statistics combine to make TBIs the leading cause of injury-related death in the USA at 30.5%.[2] It has been estimated that, with specific guidelines from the Brain Trauma Foundation, up to 50.0% of the 52,000 TBI-related deaths may be prevented.[3]