The pattern of injury to rear seat passengers involved in automobile collisions.

This retrospective study analyzed the pattern of injury among rear seat occupants in automobile collisions and compared the incidence and type of injury with that of front seat occupants. During a 2-year study period, 253 persons involved in automobile collisions were admitted to our hospital. Among these patients 168 were drivers, 54 were front seat passengers, and 24 were rear seat occupants. Injuries were classified into the following categories: neurologic, orthopedic, soft tissue, thoracic, and abdominal. No significant differences were observed in the type or extent of injury, in the incidence of permanent disability, or in the mortality rate based on the location of the passengers within automobiles involved in these crashes.