PROSPECTIVE COUNTYWIDE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF MOTOR-VEHICLE SAFETY DEVICE USE ON HOSPITAL RESOURCE USE AND INJURY SEVERITY

Study objective: We evaluated the efficacy of safety devices (seat bel ts and air bags) on hospital resource use and injury severity while co ntrolling for variables known to affect outcome of motor vehicle crash es. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of motor v ehicle crash victims who were transported to the hospital in a suburba n-rural county with a population of 1.4 million. Out-of-hospital provi ders recorded patient demographic characteristics, mechanism of injury (based on American College of Surgeons criteria), and use of seat bel ts or air bags. Hospital charts were reviewed for hospital admission, length of hospital stay, ICU stay, surgery, major nonorthopedic surger y or death, and severe injury (Injury Severity Score > 15). Results: T he study group comprised 1.446 motor vehicle crash victims. Median age was 30 years, 47% were male, and 69% used safety devices. The use of safety devices reduced the likelihood of hospital admission (adjusted odds ratio [OR], .67; 95% confidence interval [CI], .46 to .98), surge ry (adjusted OR, .52; 95% Cl, .27 to 1.01), major surgery or death (ad justed OR, .14, 95% Cl, .04 to .52), and severe injuries (adjusted OR of Injury Severity Score > 15, .39; 95% Cl, .19 to .83). Conclusion: T he use of safety devices is associated with decreased hospital resourc e use and less severe injuries for victims of motor vehicle crashes wh o are transported to the hospital by emergency medical services provid ers, even after adjustment for many other variables known to affect th e outcome of motor vehicle crashes. Continued efforts to promote safet y device use are warranted.