An analysis of maximum vehicle G forces and brain injury in motorsports crashes

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Christopher S WeaverHenry Bock

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury from automobile crashes is a major source of trauma deaths. The investigation of crashes to understand factors of occupant injuries is an established practice. Our objective was to evaluate the association between vehicle G forces (G) sustained on impact and brain injury in motor sports crashes. We analyzed data regarding Indy Racing League (IRL) car crashes from 1996 to 2003 and compared the likelihood of head injury in those drivers who were in a vehicle that sustained an impact of > or =50 G versus those with a lesser impact. The mean maximal G for those with head injury was compared with those without head injury. We analyzed 374 crashes. A driver in a crash with an impact of > or =50 G developed a head injury 16.0% (30/188) versus 1.6% (3/186) in those of <50 G (P < 0.001). The mean peak G for those with head injury was 79.6 (SD 28.5) versus 50.6 (SD 28.0) in those with no head injury (P < 0.001). Findings were that IRL car crashes with peak vehicle G > or = 50 were associated with the development of traumatic brain injuries.

References

Jan 10, 1981·British Medical Journal·B Jennett, R MacMillan
Apr 1, 1996·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·B Jennett
May 24, 2000·The Journal of Trauma·R S NaunheimL M Lewis

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 11, 2007·British Journal of Sports Medicine·G LippiG C Guidi
Sep 8, 2012·Brain Research·Yingying WangScott K Holland
Feb 18, 2012·Evolution and Human Behavior : Official Journal of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society·Leslie J SeltzerSeth D Pollak
Dec 27, 2011·Neuron·Lise Eliot
Jun 18, 2016·Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine·Ryo YanagidaKen-Ichi Iwasaki
Mar 20, 2010·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·Geoffrey L Greif
May 14, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Leslie J SeltzerSeth D Pollak
Mar 29, 2008·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology·Carolyn Zahn-WaxlerKristine Marceau
Dec 21, 2010·Journal of Sports Sciences·Rosemary C DaviesRoger G Eston
Sep 4, 2012·Journal of Sports Sciences·Christian RaschnerCarson Patterson
Jul 6, 2017·Concussion·Naomi D Deakin, Peter J Hutchinson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Brain Injury & Trauma

brain injury after impact to the head is due to both immediate mechanical effects and delayed responses of neural tissues.