Occipital condyle fracture: An unusual airbag injury

Zaglia, Elisabetta; De Leo, Domenico; Lanzara, Guido; Urbani, Urbano; Dolci, Marco

doi:10.1016/j.jcfm.2006.06.028

« Previous Next »Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 4 , Pages 231-234, May 2007

Occipital condyle fracture: An unusual airbag injury

Elisabetta Zaglia, MD
- Division of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona, Policlinico “G. Rossi”, p. le L. Scuro n. 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 045 8074246; fax: +39 045 505259.
Domenico De Leo, MD
- Division of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona, Policlinico “G. Rossi”, p. le L. Scuro n. 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
Guido Lanzara, MD
- Division of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona, Policlinico “G. Rossi”, p. le L. Scuro n. 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
Urbano Urbani, MD
- Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Chieti “G. d’Annunzio”, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti Scalo, Italy
Marco Dolci, MD
- Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Chieti “G. d’Annunzio”, via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti Scalo, Italy

Received 10 March 2006; received in revised form 8 June 2006; accepted 14 June 2006.

Abstract

The installation of airbags in motor vehicles, in association with the use of seat belts, has reduced the incidence of head injuries, as well as significantly decreasing morbidity and mortality in motor vehicle accidents. Nevertheless, the literature on the subject increasingly refers to lesions related to airbag deployment. These are usually minor, but in certain circumstances, severe and fatal injuries can result. This is a case report of serious injury due to airbag deployment, involving a restrained driver who suffered occipital condylar injury when his airbag deployed in a frontal collision. The range of airbag associated injuries is reported and predisposing factors, such as the probable proximity to the airbag housing, is discussed.

Keywords: Airbag, Motor vehicle crash, Head injuries, Seat belt mark