Factors associated with abdominal injury in frontal, farside, and nearside crashes.

The NASS-CDS (1998-2008) and CIREN datasets were analyzed to identify factors contributing to abdominal injury in crash environments where belt use and airbag deployment are common. In frontal impacts, the percentage of occupants sustaining abdominal injury is three times higher for unbelted compared to belted front-row adult occupants (p<0.0001) at both AIS2+ and AIS3+ injury levels. Airbag deployment does not substantially affect the percentage of occupants who sustain abdominal injuries in frontal impacts (p=0.6171), while belt use reduces the percentage of occupants sustaining abdominal injury in both nearside and farside crashes (p<0.0001). Right-front passengers in right-side impacts have the highest risk (1.91%) of AIS 3+ abdominal injury (p=0.03). The percentage of occupants with AIS 3+ abdominal injuries does not vary with age for frontal, nearside, or farside impacts. If an occupant sustains AIS 2+ rib fractures, the odds of the occupant sustaining an AIS 2+ abdominal injury increase dramatically. The percentage of occupants with AIS2+ abdominal injury decreases 67% for occupants in 2001-2009 model-year vehicles compared to occupants in 1985-1992 model-year vehicles. For drivers in frontal impacts, the most common vehicle-component contacts associated with abdominal injury are the steering-wheel and the lap/shoulder belt, whereas the lap/shoulder belt is the most common contact associated with abdominal injuries for right-front passengers. For occupants in nearside impacts with both liver and spleen injuries, the mean lateral door intrusion is nearly 33 cm,, while mean door intrusions range from 26 to 30 cm for occupants with only liver or only spleen injury.