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Air bag-associated injury to a child in the front passenger seat
A L Morrison1, D Chute, S Radentz
1Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Department of Neuropathology, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA.
Insights
Airbag deployment caused severe head and neck injuries in a young child. This case highlights the critical importance of proper child restraint, especially in the back seat, to prevent airbag-related trauma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Automotive Safety Research
Background:
- Airbags are a crucial safety feature in vehicles.
- Child passenger safety guidelines recommend rear-seat placement for young children.
Observation:
- A 3.5-year-old child sustained severe head and neck injuries from airbag deployment in a low-speed (<30 mph) collision.
- Injuries included facial abrasions, fractures of the skull and C4 vertebra, and brain hemorrhages.
Findings:
- The observed injuries were consistent with direct trauma from the deploying airbag and subsequent impact with the vehicle interior.
- This case demonstrates the potential for serious injury even in low-speed crashes.
Implications:
- Reinforces Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for children to be properly restrained in the back seat.
- Emphasizes the need to maximize distance between children and airbag deployment zones.
Abstract:
We report the case of a 3.5-year-old front seat passenger who suffered significant head and neck injuries as a result of air bag deployment in a collision of <30 mph. These lesions included multiple abrasions of the lower half of the face, nose, forehead, and right ear, torn frenula, conjunctival petechiae, comminuted fractures of the left and right lateral frontal regions and right parietal bone, diastatic fracture of the coronal suture, subgaleal and subarachnoid hemorrhages, cortical contusions, subluxation of the atlantooccipital joint, and fracture of the C4 vertebral body. These lesions are consistent with trauma secondary to the deploying air bag and the head striking the interior of the car. The findings in this case further support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines of keeping children properly restrained, preferably in the back seat, or as far as possible from air bags.