RESUMO
The impact of the New Mexico safety belt law on patterns of injury, severity, and cost was evaluated (using an emergency department data base). Data collected from November 1985 through February 1986 compared the 2 months before the January 1986 law with 2 months after. Before the law, 22.2% of the 379 injuries included abrasions, contusions, and lacerations to face, neck, and head. Following the law, this category constituted only 13.8% of 356 injuries, representing a reduction of 38% (P less than .05). Cost and injury severity scores (ISS) for 436 injured patients covered by the law were not significantly different between the pre- and post-seatbelt law periods. However, significant cost and severity differences were observed after the law between belted and nonbelted occupants: +2,569 compared with +662; ISS of 3.6 compared with 2.0 (P less than .05). Methodologic problems of an emergency department-based study and the need for E coding (external causes of injury) are discussed.
Assuntos
Saúde Pública/legislação & jurisprudência , Cintos de Segurança , Ferimentos e Lesões/prevenção & controle , Acidentes de Trânsito , Custos e Análise de Custo , Registros Hospitalares , Humanos , New Mexico , Ferimentos e Lesões/classificação , Ferimentos e Lesões/economiaRESUMO
Compression of the chest causing facial petechiae, violaceous facial hue, subconjunctival hemorrhages, and frequent mental status abnormalities has been termed traumatic asphyxia. We identified 35 such cases occurring in the State of New Mexico from 1980 to 1985 from records of the Office of the Medical Investigator (n = 30) and from cases presenting to the University of New Mexico Trauma Center (n = 5). Among those found at highest risk for traumatic asphyxia were people ejected from motor vehicles, men working under cars that were inadequately supported and fell onto the victims, children under the age of 5 years who were crushed under household furniture, and people involved in construction activities. Traumatic asphyxia following a moving motor vehicle accident was significantly associated with alcohol ingestion (p less than 0.001). Preventive and therapeutic strategies should focus on the groups and events identified.