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Biomedical subjects

U Björnstig

Publications and source records attributed to U Björnstig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[All traffic related deaths are not "fatalities"--analysis of the official Swedish statistics of traffic accident fatalities in 1999].

In 1997 the Swedish Parliament decided, in accordance with the so-called Vision Zero, that one official goal for the national traffic safety effort is that the number of traffic fatalities in the year 2007 must not exceed 270. In order to monitor efforts toward this hard-won goal, it is of course of utmost importance that official statistics on traffic deaths are reliable. In a meticulous analysis of all 580 officially registered traffic deaths in Sweden in 1999, we found that 490 were true accidental deaths, while 18 were suicides, 12 were deaths due to indeterminate causes, 59 were natural deaths and 1 case was not possible to evaluate due to missing data. Thus, only 84% of the officially registered "accidental traffic deaths" were bona fide accidents. In order to enhance the reliability of the official statistics, we suggest that regulations concerning police investigation and medicolegal autopsy of all unnatural deaths be adhered to all deaths reported to the Swedish National Road Administration should be checked in the database of autopsied cases in the National Board of Forensic Medicine in order to exclude natural deaths the time delay (1.5 years) to complete the official Cause-of-Death Register be shortened criteria for the classification of manner of death in "borderline" cases be suggested for international acceptance.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2001

Teenager injury panorama in northern Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: To study non-fatal unintentional injuries among teenagers and to suggest preventive measures. SETTING: The emergency care unit of the University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. METHODS: All injured teenagers (N = 1044) attending the emergency care unit during 1991 were asked to answer a questionnaire focusing on when, where and how the injury occurred. All available medical records were examined. Data were coded according to the Nordic Medico-Statistical Committees Classification for Accident Monitoring, NOMESCO, and to the Abbreviated Injury Scale, AIS. RESULTS: 1,043 teenagers were treated with sports and transportation related injuries as the most common ones. Most injuries were minor (AIS 1), transportation related injuries had the highest proportion of non-minor injuries (AIS > or = 2), 139 teenagers were admitted for in-patient care. Most injuries occurred during leisure/school time. CONCLUSIONS: Sports and transportation related injuries were most frequent. Body weight and length differs among teenagers, we suggest that teenagers should exercise and play together, not only by age, but also to some extent, to height and weight. Curfew laws, a compulsory bicycle helmet law are other injury reducing measures suggested.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed2001

Use of seat belts in cars with different seat belt reminder systems. A study of injured car drivers.

The use of seat belts in cars with different seat belt reminder systems was analyzed in a population of 477 injured car drivers, transported by ambulance to Umeå University Hospital after car crashes. The ambulance personnel acted as independent observers regarding the use of seat belts. In this population the non-users were significantly (multivariate logistic regression) fewer (12%) in cars with a combined light and sound reminder, compared to cars without reminder (23%). In cars with only a light signal the proportion of non-users was the same as in cars without any reminder at all. An introduction of more effective reminders, at least in new cars, might be an effective way to increase seat belt usage rates in the long-term.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2000

[Inline skating--high fracture risk. Two of three injured are boys and young men. Wrist fractures are most common].

In-line skating injuries have increased in recent years. Hospital based data from Umeå concerning 135 persons injured in in line skating collisions were analyzed. The highest yearly incidence of injury was found in males 10-19 years of age, at 1.7 per 1,000 inhabitants; the corresponding figure for females was 0.5. Two-thirds of incidents were caused by falls due to balance problems without the influence of any "external factor" such as rough road surfaces. No collisions with motor vehicles or other road users were registered. Nearly half of the injuries were fractures or dislocation injuries, most frequently of the upper extremities. Non-minor head injuries were rare. Protective gear for wrist and elbow may have the potential to reduce these injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

"Avoidable" deaths in two areas of Sweden - analysis of deaths in hospital after injury.

OBJECTIVE: To describe causes of death and other characteristics of "avoidable" deaths in patients admitted to hospital after trauma, and estimate and analyse changes in the avoidable death rate during the years studied. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of medico legal autopsy material. SETTING: One northern and one western area in Sweden 1988-1996. SUBJECTS: 335 cases who died in hospital after trauma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Avoidable death, defined as an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 35 or less and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) head of 4 or less and cause of death. RESULTS: We found 70 avoidable deaths (21%). Among these, 15 (21%) died of head injuries, 17 (24%) of thoracic, abdominal, or pelvic injuries, and 38 (54%) of medical complications. The number of deaths after trauma decreased considerably from 1988-90 to 1994-96, but the proportion who died in hospital remained almost constant. The proportion of avoidable deaths decreased from 22% to 17%, mainly because the proportion of deaths from medical complications was halved. CONCLUSION: The standard of Swedish in-hospital trauma care has improved, particularly with a reduction in post-traumatic complications. However, there is still room for improvement in the treatment of complications among elderly people.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Sick leave and disability pension among passenger car occupants injured in urban traffic.

STUDY DESIGN: A follow-up cohort study of passenger car occupants injured in car crashes in an urban area in Sweden. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the injuries, injury events, and long-term consequences of injuries in car crashes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The consequences of car crashes usually are described in terms of the number of people injured, the severity of injuries, or the number of inpatient days. Certain types of crash injuries can results in long-term sick leave and granting of disability pension. The increased socioeconomic significance of these outcomes is not always indicated by analysis of commonly used variables. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-five passenger car occupants aged 16-64 years who were injured in car crashes in urban traffic were analyzed in terms of length of sick leave and receipt of disability pension. RESULTS: Strain of the cervical spine was the most common type of injury (55%, 141 injuries), and these injuries accounted for 82% of all sick leave taken within 2.5 years after the injury event. Injury to the cervical spine in 16 of 18 cases resulted in long-term sick leave or dependence on disability pension. The most common injury mechanism was rear-end collisions (39%). This type of crash resulted in 64% of all sick-leave days within 2.5 years after the injury event. Twelve out of 18 injured people on long-term sick leave or receiving disability pension had been in cars struck from behind. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to include long-term consequences in the form of sick leave and disability pension when describing the consequences of different types of car crashes and injuries.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1998

Acute badminton injuries.

During 1990-1994, 1.2% of all sports injuries that required emergency care at the University Hospital of Umeå were caused by badminton. In 90.7% of the cases the patients described themselves as recreational players or beginners. There were 51.3% minor injuries (AIS 1) and 48.7% moderate injuries (AIS 2). The lower extremities were affected in 92.3% of the cases. Achilles tendon ruptures (34.6%) and ankle sprains and fractures (29.5%) were the most frequent. By the time of the follow-up (10-69 months), 52.6% of the players still had symptoms from the injuries and 39.5% had not been able to return to playing badminton. Our data indicate the importance of adequate treatment and rehabilitation after acute badminton injuries.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1998

Crash responsibility versus drug and alcohol use among fatally injured and hospitalized motor vehicle drivers in Sweden.

The present study was aimed at determining whether drivers testing positive for drugs and/or alcohol were more often responsible for the crash than the test-negative ones. Data on 241 fatally injured and 102 hospitalized motor-vehicle drivers was collected in Northern and Western Sweden. Blood samples were taken from these drivers and screened for the presence of alcohol, licit drugs, and illicit drugs. A judgment of responsibility, and assessment of the traffic situation and crash characteristics were based on police reports. Alcohol-positive drivers (n = 49) were more often (96% vs. 70%, p < 0.0001) judged to be responsible for the crash than test-negative drivers. Ninety-three percent of the drug-positive drivers were judged to be responsible, but they were not significantly more often responsible than the test-negative drivers. Drug-positive drivers differed from the alcohol-positive drivers in that they more often crossed over to the wrong side of the road and crashed into an oncoming vehicle. The findings support previous studies that reducing the number of drug-positive drivers in traffic is bound to lead to a reduction in crashes resulting in injury. Further analysis with a larger sample is needed to elucidate the association between crash responsibility and drugs other than alcohol.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1997

Slipping on ice and snow--elderly women and young men are typical victims.

Slipping on ice or snow during winter caused 3.5 injuries per 1000 inhabitants per year in the Umeå health district; the injury rate was highest among the elderly. Most injured were elderly women, but also many young men in the age group 20-29 years were injured. Half of all injuries were fractures; for women 50 years and over two-thirds were fractures, mostly of an upper extremity. The 'cost' of medical care of these slipping injuries was almost the same as the 'cost' of all traffic injuries in the area during the same time. Injury reducing measures, such as more effective snow clearing, sand and salt spreading in strategic areas, better slip preventive aids on shoes, and 'padding' of older women, would reduce the injuries and their consequences.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1997

Drug and alcohol use among injured motor vehicle drivers in Sweden: prevalence, driver, crash, and injury characteristics.

Injured motor vehicle drivers who were hospitalized (Umeå: n = 130) and fatally injured drivers who were autopsied (Umeå, Northern Sweden: n = 111; Gothenburg, Western Sweden: n = 136) from May 1991 through December 1993 were tested for alcohol and for both licit and illicit drugs. Nineteen percent of the Umeå-hospitalized drivers (UHDs), 26% of the Umeå fatally injured drivers (UFDs), and 21% of the Gothenburg fatally injured drivers (GFDs) tested positive for drugs and/or alcohol. Ten percent of the UHDs, 8% of the UFDs, and 6% of the GFDs tested positive for drugs. Almost 5% of the UHDs, had illicit drugs, and 6% had licit drugs. Only 3% of the GFDs and none of the UFDs had illicit drugs. Benzodiazepines, followed by opiates, tetrahydrocannabinol, and amphetamine were the most common drugs detected. Twelve percent of the UHDs, 24% of the UFDs, and 17% of the GFDs tested positive for alcohol. Two percent of the UHDs, 6% of the UFDs, and 2% of the GFDs had a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1997

Comparison between blood analysis and police assessment of drug and alcohol use by injured drivers.

Official statistics for alcohol/drug use by drivers can influence the introduction of intervention measures against impaired driving. Thus, the validity of official statistics is important. Since official statistics are based on police assessment of inebriation, the present study was aimed at investigating this issue by comparing blood analysis with the rate of police detection of alcohol/drug use by injured drivers. All injured motor vehicle drivers who were hospitalized (HD) (Umeå: n = 104) and all fatally-injured drivers (FD) who were autopsied (Umeå, Northern Sweden: n = 110; Gothenburg, Western Sweden: n = 133) from May 1991 through Dec 1993 were tested for alcohol and both licit and illicit drugs. The findings of the blood analyses were compared with police assessment of inebriation. In the HD, the police suspected inebriation in 13% (n = 13) whilst blood analyses showed drug and or alcohol in 18% (n = 19) of the drivers (sensitivity 69%; specificity 97%). In the FD, the police suspected inebriation in 7% (n = 16) of the drivers whilst blood analyses showed drug and/or alcohol in 23% (n = 57) of the drivers (sensitivity 53%; specificity 100%). The blood alcohol-positive HD who the police suspected to be inebriated had significantly higher mean blood alcohol concentrations than those not suspected. To avoid biased statistics, official statistics on inebriation of injured drivers should be based on blood analysis of drug/alcohol and not on police assessment.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

Gender patterns in minor head and neck injuries: an analysis of casualty register data.

This study was designed to determine the age- and gender-specific incidences of moderate and minor head and neck injuries from emergency room casualty registers in two cities in northern Sweden. By contrast with findings in most studies on injuries, the incidence of minor and moderate head and neck injuries was higher among women than men in the 15-17- and the 39-53-year-old age group, and the incidence of neck injuries as high among women as among men in the 15-65-year-old age group. As compared to men, women more often sustained their head and neck injuries as pedestrians and as car passengers, and in rear-end and side collisions. Men were more often injured as motor vehicle drivers, in single-vehicle accidents and head-on collisions. Sports-related impact injuries were twice as common as fall injuries among men, the reverse being true of women. The determinants of gender-specific differences, and the relatively high incidence of minor head and neck injuries among women are discussed in relation to exposure, physical differences, as well as behaviour and lifestyle. It is recommended that greater detail is required in injury registrations, and that neck injury prevention be improved taking into consideration women's greater vulnerability to such injuries.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

Trams--a risk factor for pedestrians.

In Gothenburg tram injuries were identified to be an important cause of traffic injuries and fatalities (48%) among pedestrians. During the summer middle-aged men, often under the influence of alcohol, were often severely injured and the injury rate was also high during the autumn. A majority (60%) of those fatally injured were under the influence of alcohol. Most injury events happened at or near a tram stop. The most serious injuries arose when the victim landed under a tram. In 1992, a runaway tram caused a major disaster, killing 10 pedestrians and injuring 30. The injury reducing measures the tram company has now started to introduce include safety railings at tram stops, side barriers on the tramcars to prevent people from falling under the tram and lower speeds near tram stops.

Accidents, Traffic↗