Rollover Car Crashes with Ejection: A Deadly Combination—An Analysis of 719 Patients

Abstract

Rollover car crashes (ROCs) are serious public safety concerns worldwide. Objective. To determine the incidence and outcomes of ROCs with or without ejection of occupants in the State of Qatar. Methods. A retrospective study of all patients involved in ROCs admitted to Level I trauma center in Qatar (2011-2012). Patients were divided into Group I (ROC with ejection) and Group II (ROC without ejection). Results. A total of 719 patients were evaluated (237 in Group I and 482 in Group II). The mean age in Group I was lower than in Group II (24.3 ± 10.3 versus 29 ± 12.2; P = 0.001). Group I had higher injury severity score and sustained significantly more head, chest, and abdominal injuries in comparison to Group II. The mortality rate was higher in Group I (25% versus 7%; P = 0.001). Group I patients required higher ICU admission rate (P = 0.001). Patients in Group I had a 5-fold increased risk for age-adjusted mortality (OR 5.43; 95% CI 3.11–9.49), P = 0.001). Conclusion. ROCs with ejection are associated with higher rate of morbidity and mortality compared to ROCs without ejection. As an increased number of young Qatari males sustain ROCs with ejection, these findings highlight the need for research-based injury prevention initiatives in the country.

New cars on the highways: Trends in injuries and outcomes following ejection

“…Our data showed that a significantly higher percentage of ejection victims required cranial or spinal procedures, which coincides with previous studies identifying increased head and neck injuries in ejected victims [ 27 , 28 ]. Therefore, a high index of suspicion should be maintained when evaluating ejected patients in the acute setting, and liberal imaging for early identification of these injuries is warranted.…”

Applying the five-pillar matrix to the decade of action for road safety in Qatar: identifying gaps and priorities

“…The identification of Pillar 3, safer vehicles, as a gap in the implementation of the DoARS Action Plan in Qatar has important local implications. In Qatar, more than 40% of RTIs occur in the context of rollover crashes with 33% of these being ejected from the vehicle 46. Many of these rollover crashes and more of the attendant injuries could be prevented through the universal deployment of improved vehicle safety technologies, that is, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), for both passive and active safety through a combination of harmonization of relevant global standards, consumer information schemes and incentives to accelerate the uptake of new technologies 47.…”

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