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Biomedical subjects

D F Huelke

Publications and source records attributed to D F Huelke.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Cervical fractures and fracture-dislocations sustained without head impact.

Because of its flexibility and structure, the cervical spine is disposed to various mechanisms of injury: although not so common as injuries caused by head impacts, cervical fractures and/or fracture-dislocations have been reported without direct impact to the head. Some cervical injuries reported have been sustained by wearers of lap and shoulder belts in auto accidents; however, we do not consider belt use a potential hazard because ample evidence has accrued in the medical and engineering literature to document general injury and fatality reduction by use of seatbelts. We believe that in many instances occupants would be more seriously injured or killed were belts not worn. The present paper reviews reports of cervical injuries without head impact found in the literature and case histories of such injuries from the Highway Safety Research Institute of The University of Michigan, as well as experimental studies in animals, cadavers, and volunteer subjects.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1976

The hazard of the unrestrained occupant.

A review of 208 cases involving injuries sustained by vehicle occupants was extracted from the computer storage at the Highway Safety Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In addition, 157 new car crashes investigated by the authors were separately analyzed. Data analysis indicates injuries are sustained by direct occupant-to-occupant contact and by one occupant forcing another into or against one or more interior car structures. All body areas can be involved in this previously unreported injury mechanism, with the upper portion of the body more susceptibel to injury. Case histories from field accident investigations document a variety of these injury mechanisms.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1975

Vertebral column injuries and seat belts.

It is obvious from the above that there are several independent mechanisms in the production of the various types of lumbar fractures. The details of these mechanisms must be fully understood in each case of lumbar vertebral injury. The cases reviewed in the present paper show that similar if not identical lumbar injuries can occur in car occupants wearing or not wearing lap belts at the time of the crash. Thus, cauxally relating a lumbar injury to the lap seat belt is in error. Only distraction injuries located between 1-2 and 1-4 with no evidence of either compression or anterior wedging can be causally related to a lap belt. Even some injuries with this typical confuguration have been observed in persons who were not belted (10). Thus, without knowledge of details of the crunch, lumbar fractures could mistakenly related to use of the lap belt. Thoraculumbar injuries have been senn in patients who were ejected from the car some time during the crash event. Relating the ejection event to the lumbar fracture must be done with great caution. As has been shown by Roaf (48) and by Kaufer and Hayes (33), the type and location of the lumbar spine injury can frequently and indicatory of load application. Other body injuries, or lack thereof, are often good clues to determine the point of load application causing lumbar injury. In addition, it has been recomended that additional details of the injury and of the accident be obtained for accuracy reporting of seat belt injuries.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1975

Automobile accident studies of maxillofacial injuries.

The use of the available lap and shoulder belts would between 10,000 and 15,000 fatalities annually, and would significantly reduce the number of injuries, particularly those of the face. By mandatory seat belt usage laws a significant reduction in deaths, disfiguring injuries, and hospital bed-days would be realized.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1972

Mechanisms of injury in automobile crashes.

The only way to determine the causes of injury in automobile collisions is through examination of data collected in detailed investigation of crashes. Such data were gathered from a ten-year study of collisions that caused injury to the occupants of the cars. In a comparison of injuries in the newer model automobiles-vehicles equipped with the safety features-with those in older model cars not equipped with the present-day occupant protection devices, significant reduction in injury severity was noted.

Accident Prevention↗