O'Connor (2002). Injury to the spinal cord in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

[Wise Young]

• O'Connor P (2002). Injury to the spinal cord in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Accid Anal Prev. 34 (4): 477-85. Summary: Motor vehicle traffic crashes (MVTCs) are the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injury. Evidence of putative risk factors for this type of injury comes largely from descriptive studies. This study is the first case-control study of risk factors for spinal cord injury specifically in car crashes. Cases of occupant spinal cord injury in South Australia were identified from the Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register (ASCIR) which provides full coverage of the adult population. The comparison group was other seriously injured car occupants. In single vehicle car crashes in the country, the likelihood of spinal cord injury was five times higher for occupants of non-sedan type cars compared with sedans. The likelihood of spinal cord injury was especially high in non-sedan type cars involved in rollover crashes; ten times higher than sedans. The implications of the findings for prevention are highlighted. Concern is expressed over the increasing proportion of four wheel drive passenger vehicles (sport utility vehicles) in the car fleet in Australia, and in the USA, as they are more prone to rollover. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?db=m&form=6&dopt=r&uid=12067110> Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register, AIHW National Injury Surveillance Unit, Flinders University Research Centre for Injury Studies, Bedford Park, Australia. peter.oconnor@nisu.flinders.edu.au

[dogger]

Dr. Wise Young , I would like to tell of my personal experience Re: four wheel drives [suv's] . my injury [c 5/6] occurred as a result of a rollover in a four wheel drive . i believe i was saved from worse injury by the fact that my vehicle had a roll bar fitted . due to the poor roads where i live a four wheel drive is a necessary type of vehicle . i bought a new four wheel drive after my accident and had a roll bar fitted to the vehicle .when the vehicle was sold , the dealers dropped the amount offered for the vehicle because they said they would have to remove the roll bar before they could resell it . hope i have explained this clearly . thank you .

dogger

[This message was edited by dogger on Jun 19, 2002 at 10:43 PM.]

[Emi2]

I was in an SUV too...If they are so prone to roll-overs I think they should be built stronger. The drivers side of the Jeep Cherokee I was driving was very crushed. But I guess that's what happens when a tonne of metal leaves the road at 90 km/hr.

[dogger]

the general public hold a view of 4wd's [suv's] as being stronger than sedans , unfortunately in roll overs this is far from the truth.in Australia 4wd's are now a status symbol . advertising has a lot to answer for . i owned a sportscar [ mazda rx 7] before i bought my 4wd and i felt much safer in that than my 4wd and found it much more enjoyable to drive.

[This message was edited by dogger on Jun 19, 2002 at 11:29 PM.]