Deformations and intrusions of the passenger compartment as indicators of injury severity and triage in head-on collisions of non-airbag-carrying vehicles.

In motor vehicle collisions the mechanism of injury is important in determining severity as well as for triage decisions in the pre-hospital phase of patient management. This study correlates deformation of the basic structures of the passenger compartment [windscreen, control panel (dashboard) and steering wheel] with occupants' injuries in passenger vehicle head-on collisions involving non-airbag-carrying vehicles, with or without compartment intrusion. The study took place in the broad urban area of Patras, over an 18-month period (January 2000-June 2001) and evaluated 48 vehicle crashes. Car and compartment deformation are significant factors affecting occupants' injuries and consequently the appropriate type of further treatment, either in the hospital setting or primary health-care centres. It would be particularly useful to transmit the post-crash condition of a vehicle to the trauma dispatch centre, utilising satellite technology, thus allowing the centre to organise the rescue teams, plan triage in advance and provide the emergency medical personnel with all necessary information before their arrival at the scene of the accident.