The Science and Some Medicine Behind Seat Belt Use

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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It’s All About Saving Lives and Ankle Bones

By Muhammad Saleem, and

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko FACFAS MBA CMP™

[Editor-in-Chief]

Vintage 2000 Jaguar XJ-V8-LWB Touring Sedan

The Ankle Bone is Connected to the Foot [er –ah] Leg Bone

The talus is one of the important bones that makes up the ankle joint. Over one half of the talus is covered with cartilage–it serves as an important link between the leg and the foot. The talus moves not only at the ankle joint, but also below the ankle and in the midfoot. Therefore, injuries to the talus can affect motion of the ankle and foot joints.

‘Aviators Astragalus’

Talus [astragalus ankle bone] fractures were almost unheard of a hundred years ago. The first series of talus fractures was described, by Dr. WD Coltart, in men who were injured in the British Royal Air Force in the early 1900s. The term ‘aviators astragalus’ was used to describe these fractures that happened as old war planes made crash landings.

Original Historic Reference Link: AA

Today, talus fractures are seen in high speed car accidents when you don’t-buckle up that seat belt or shoulder harness. I’ve seen far too many during my days covering the local Emergency Room.

So, here is an infograhic on the science behind seat belts. It contains some interesting and some encouraging facts that we wanted to share with our ME-P readers and subscribers.

Mechanism of Injury: Hawkins classification Talar fractures (C) iMBA Inc

The Facts

  • National seat belt use has increased from 69% in 1998 to 84% in 2010.
  • Automotive fatalities rank third in terms of lives lost per year, behind cancer and heart disease.
  • Seat belts are responsible for saving between12,000 to 16,000 lives each year.
  • Most crash deaths occur within 25 miles of home and at speeds below 40 miles per hour.

Conclusion

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