Airbag associated fatal head injury: case report and review of the literature on airbag injuries

Airbags have been shown to significantly reduce mortality and morbidity in motor vehicle crashes. However, the airbag, like the seat belt, produces it s own range of injuries. With the increasing use of airbags in the UK, airb ag associated injuries will be seen more often. These are usually minor, bu t in certain circumstances severe and fatal injuries result. Such injuries have been described before in the medical Literature, but hitherto most rep orts have been from North America. This is the first case report from the U K of serious injury due to airbag deployment and describes the case of a dr iver who was fatally injured when her airbag deployed in a moderate impact frontal collision where such severe injury would not normally have been ant icipated. The range of airbag associated injuries is described and predispo sing factors such as lack of seat belt usage, short stature, and proximity to airbag housing are discussed. The particular dangers airbags pose to chi ldren are also discussed.