Cost of spinal cord injuries caused by rollover automobile crashes

ObjectiveTo determine the reduction in direct cost for treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI) in belted occupants involved in rollover automobile crashes in the USA that would result if severe roof intrusion were eliminated.MethodsRisk of SCI per rollover crash and by belted/unbelted status was cal...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Injury prevention 2010-04, Vol.16 (2), p.74-78
Main Authors: Burns, Stephen P, Kaufman, Robert P, Mack, Christopher D, Bulger, Eileen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
accidents
Accidents, Traffic - economics
Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data
Adult
Automobiles
economics
Fatalities
Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data
Humans
motor vehicle crashes
MVTC
Seat Belts - utilization
spinal cord
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries - economics
Spinal Cord Injuries - etiology
Spinal Cord Injuries - therapy
spinal fractures
traffic
Traffic accidents & safety
United States - epidemiology
Vehicles
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:ObjectiveTo determine the reduction in direct cost for treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI) in belted occupants involved in rollover automobile crashes in the USA that would result if severe roof intrusion were eliminated.MethodsRisk of SCI per rollover crash and by belted/unbelted status was calculated for roof intrusion magnitude categories using 1993–2006 National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) data. Direct costs of SCI based on neurological level and completeness of SCI were calculated using data from the National SCI Statistical Center.ResultsA reduction in rate of SCI for belted occupants with >15 cm roof intrusion to the rate seen for belted occupants with 8–15 cm roof intrusion would reduce the direct cost of SCI by approximately $97 million annually.ConclusionThere would be substantial cost savings solely by a reduction in one uncommon type of injury, SCI, if severe roof intrusion were eliminated.
ISSN:1353-8047
1475-5785
DOI:10.1136/ip.2008.021097