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A comprehensive analysis is performed to evaluate the effect of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) of occupants on side impact injuries at different body regions. The accident dataset for this study is based on the National Automotive Sampling System-Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) for accident year 2000-08. The mean BMI values for driver and front passenger are estimated from all types of crashes using NASS database, which clearly indicates that mean BMI has been increasing over the years in the USA. To study the effect of BMI in side impact injuries, BMI was split into three groups namely (1) thin (BMI<21), (2) normal (BMI 24-27), (3) obese (BMI>30). For more clear identification of the effect of BMI in side impact injuries, a minimum gap of three BMI is set in between each adjacent BMI groups. Car model years from MY1995-1999 to MY2000-2008 are chosen in order to identify the degree of influence of older and newer generation of cars in side impact injuries. Impact locations particularly side-front (F), side-center (P) and side-distributed (Y) are chosen for this analysis. Direction of force (DOF) considered for both near side and far side occupants are 8 o'clock, 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock respectively. Age <60 years is also one of the constraints imposed on data selection to minimize the effect of bone strength on the occurrence of occupant injuries. AIS2+ and AIS3+ injury risk in all body regions have been plotted for the selected three BMI groups of occupant, delta-V 0-60kmph, two sets (old and new) of car model years. The analysis is carried with three approaches: (a) injury risk percentage based on simple graphical method with respect to a single variable, (b) injury distribution method where the injuries are marked on the respective anatomical locations and (c) logistic regression, a statistical method, considers all the related variables together. Lower extremity injury risk appears to be high for thin BMI group. It is found that BMI does not have much influence on head injuries but it is influenced more by the height of the occupant. Results of logistic analysis suggest that BMI, height and weight may have significant contribution towards side impact injuries across different body regions., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Most seriously wounded US Army casualties from the Iraqi theater of operations come through Walter Reed Army Medical Center on their return to the United States. General surgery and orthopaedic surgery services have developed a multidisciplinary team approach to triage and treatment of incoming casualties., Study Design: Prospective database of returning casualties to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) from March 1 to July 1, 2003., Results: Of 294 casualties seen, 119 were triaged to inpatient status and treated within 1 hour of arrival; mean age 26.6 +/- 6.2 years (range 23 to 37). Time from original battlefield injury was a mean of 8 days (range 3 to 28 days). Forty-six (39%) sustained gunshot wounds, 37 (31%) sustained blast and shrapnel injuries, and 41 (34%) had blunt/motor vehicle collision mechanisms. There were a total of 184 wounded locations in these 119 casualties; of these, there were 29 head and neck, 25 chest, 20 abdomen, 74 lower extremity, and 36 upper extremity. Twenty-eight casualties (23%) required emergent surgical procedures on the night of arrival. Another 30 (25%) required an urgent surgical procedure within 48 hours of arrival., Conclusions: Followup surgical procedures were urgently or emergently required in 43% of admitted battlefield casualties from OIF on transfer to Level V care in the continental United States. The injury pattern of wounds from this engagement is described. The Walter Reed Army Medical Center system of incoming battlefield casualty evaluation using multidisciplinary teams is successful in expediting care and ensuring evaluation of the full range of potential injuries.

Objective: Increasingly powerful nonpowder firearms or air guns are frequently given to children as toys. We undertook the present study to evaluate the injuries caused by these firearms, based on the concern that they are capable of inflicting serious trauma., Design: Descriptive, retrospective chart review., Setting: Urban level I pediatric trauma center., Participants: The study included all children with injuries secondary to air guns who were admitted between July 1988 and March 1995., Main Outcome Measures: Type of weapon, circumstances of injury, anatomic location of injury, injury severity, surgeries performed, morbidity., Interventions: None., Results: There were 42 admissions with a mean hospital stay of seven days (range 1 to 136 days). The average age was 10 years (range 1 to 23 years) with a median age of 11 years. There were 35 boys and 7 girls. Twenty-nine of the 42 injuries were caused by a family member or friend and five were self-inflicted. The mean injury severity score was 8.3. While there were no fatalities, 21 children (50%) underwent operative procedures for their injuries. Ten of the injuries were potentially lethal, of which seven were due to the "pump" action air gun. Sixteen patients had serious long-term disability as a result of their injuries., Conclusion: Air guns can cause a variety of serious injuries, often requiring operative intervention. The long-term morbidity from some of these injuries is significant. Both parents and physicians should be aware that nonpowder guns are not toys, but weapons capable of inflicting serious trauma. The evaluation and treatment of air gun injuries should be similar to that currently used for powder weapon injuries. Recommendations for evaluation and treatment are made.