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Stroke and automobile accidents
1Department of Neurology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, USA.
Insights
In hospitalized patients, ischemic cerebral infarction can cause motor vehicle accidents. When stroke precedes an accident, impaired consciousness and motor control are key factors. Further analysis is crucial for determining causality.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Ischemic cerebral infarction (stroke) can lead to neurological deficits affecting driving ability.
- The causal relationship between stroke and motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) requires detailed investigation.
Abstract:
To define the causal relationship of ischemic cerebral infarction to automobile accidents in hospitalized patients a computerized hospital record search with ICD-9 diagnostic codes 433 and 434 for occlusive cerebrovascular disease, and E810 and E819 for motor vehicle traffic accidents was conducted over a three-year period. Inclusion criteria required patients be identified as the driver of the vehicle and demonstrate computed tomographic (CT) evidence of an evolving cerebral infarction on serial scans. Of 2,844 ischemic cerebral infarctions admitted to the hospital during the study period, four met the selection criteria. In three, stroke was the cause and in one, the result of the accident. When stroke preceded the accident, visual field defect impaired consciousness, and/or loss of motor control were major contributing factors. Head CT, detailed accident scene history, and vascular disease risk factors were most important in determining a cause-and-effect relationship of stroke to the accident.