Side impact field crashes from the University of Michigan Crash
Injury Research and Engineering Network (UM CIREN) database were
studied in detail. These cases involved seriously injured occupants
that spanned 1997 - 2006 model year vehicles. Specific injury risks
are not presented because the database used was populated only with
occupants requiring treatment at a Level 1 Trauma Center.
This study analyzes side impact collisions for AIS ≥ 3 injury
patterns in crash configuration, injury contact locations, gender
and by age. Field crashes were also categorized into those that
represent existing standard side impact laboratory test
methods.
Over half of the cases were identified as collisions into the
passenger compartment with occupants seated on the near side of the
vehicle closest to the impact, which is consistent with current
standard laboratory tests. The next two largest categories involved
either far-side occupants or impacts primarily centered onto the
engine compartment. The most commonly injured body regions in the
above categories were the head, thorax and lower extremity. Females
had the highest proportion of pelvic injuries. While bone density
decreases with age, particularly for females after child bearing
age, pelvic fractures from side impacts treated at University
Hospital involved predominately younger women (16 - 45 years old).
Pelvic anatomical measurements obtained from radiological films
were analyzed to identify dimensional differences between the
genders and by age, which may affect injury outcome.