Highlights
- •Airbag deployment is associated with the development of blunt cerebrovascular injuries.
- •Airbag deployment is protective against cervical spine injuries.
- •Screening for BCVI in patients with airbag deployment may reduce missed injuries.
Abstract
Background
Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) can cause blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI). Exploring
MVC characteristics that increase BCVI may reduce missed injuries. This study aims
to evaluate the association between airbag deployment and BCVI.
Methods
We analyzed the 2016-Trauma Quality Improvement Database including adult MVC drivers.
Patients were stratified: airbag deployment(A+) and no-airbag deployment(A-). Outcomes
were BCVI, and cervical spine injuries (CSI).
Results
A total of 122,973 patients were identified: A+: 106,492, and A-: 16,481. The incidence
of BCVI was 1907 (1.6%): and CSI was 20,711 (16.8%). A+ patients had a higher rate
of BCVI (1.6% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.001), but a lower rate of CSI (16.2% vs. 21.4%; p < 0.001).
On regression analysis, A+ was associated with BCVI (1.419[1.184–1.701]; p < 0.001)
but was protective for CSI (0.767[0.672–0.878]; p < 0.001).
Conclusion
A+ may be an unrecognized risk factor for BCVI even for patients without a CSI. Expanding
BCVI screening criteria to include A+ may reduce missed injuries.
Level of evidence
Level III, prognostic.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 16, 2022
Accepted:
October 13,
2022
Received in revised form:
August 27,
2022
Received:
March 25,
2022
Footnotes
☆Oral Presentation at the Southwestern Surgical Conference Annual Meeting, April 2022; Phoenix, Arizona.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
