The injury pathway most likely to increase a patient's morbidity and mortality in a motor vehicle collision is ejection from the vehicle.
Why Ejection Is Most Dangerous
- Ejection occurs when a person is thrown out of the vehicle during a crash, most often because they were not wearing a seat belt.
- This pathway exposes victims to direct, high-impact trauma with the ground or other objects, greatly increasing the risk of fatal injuries such as traumatic brain injury, massive internal bleeding, and spinal cord injuries.
- Ejected occupants have a much higher risk of sustaining multiple, severe injuries compared to those who remain inside the vehicle.
Comparison to Other Injury Pathways
- Rotational, lateral, and rollover crashes can also cause serious injuries (such as pelvic fractures or organ damage), but ejection is associated with the greatest overall risk of death and severe disability.
- Internal injuries—like ruptured organs or severe chest trauma—are highly dangerous, but the mechanism of ejection, by itself, most dramatically increases morbidity and mortality.
Prevention of Ejection Injuries
- Proper seat belt use is the single most effective way to reduce the risk of ejection in a collision.
- Vehicle safety features like airbags and reinforced doors also lower the chances of occupant ejection and resultant severe trauma.
In summary, ejection remains the most critical injury pathway in motor vehicle collisions regarding increasing a patient’s morbidity and mortality.
