Motor Vehicle injuries
ar (four-wheeler) injuries
Sparrow foot marks
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Multiple punctate lacerations on face are produced due to shattering of windscreen glass into multiple
small blunt edged fragments |
Hinge fracture
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Skull base fracture running along the petrous ridges through sella turcica, i.e. transverse fracture through
middle cranial fossa |
Ladder Tears
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Multiple transverse intimal tears in aorta, adjacent to main rupture |
Seat belt syndrome
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There are contusion, laceration, perforation and avulsions of small intestine, omenta, and mesenteries.
There may be rupture of abdominal aorta, spleen, liver, pancreas, caecum; haematoma of lower abdomen; and fracture of lumbar vertebra. |
Whiplash injury
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Acute hyperflexion followed by hyperextension of neck due to violent acceleration or deceleration
force applied to (front seat) passenger Frcature not common Paresthesia and chronic pain |
Steering wheel impact type injury
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It occurs due to sudden stop of car, throwing forward the driver; and throat may be crushed across top of
steering wheel or horn ring. |
Motor cycle (two-wheelers) injuries
Motorcyclist fracture
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Hinge fracture of base of skull, dividing it into anterior and posterior half |
| Ring fracture (foramen magnum fracture) |
It is ‘fissured fracture of skull which encircles foramen magnum in such a way that anterior 1/3 is separated
from posterior 2/3 at its junction. |
| Bicycle spoke injury |
Occurs when a rider or passenger on a bicycle slips from seat and his foot or leg passes through the space of
wheel. |
| Under running (tail gating) |
Motor cyclist (or occasionally car) may drive into the back of large vehicle (e.g. truck) due to its sudden and
unexpected stoppage. |
Exam Important
- Sparrow foot marks are multiple punctate lacerations on face, produced due to shattering of windscreen glass
Whiplash injury:
- Acute hyperflexion followed by hyperextension of neck due to violent acceleration or deceleration force applied to (front seat) passenger
- Fracture not common
- Paresthesia and chronic pain
- Seat belt injury is chance fracture, causes laceration of mesenteries and rupture of small intestine.
- Ladder tear Multiple transverse intimal tears in aorta, adjacent to main rupture
- Motorcyclist fracture: Hinge fracture of base of skull, dividing it into anterior and posterior half
- Ring fracture of skull base separating the rim of foramen magnum from rest of the base.
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