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Jason Mouzakes, MD; Peter J. Koltai, MD; Siobhan Kuhar, MD, PhD; Dan S. Bernstein, MCP; Paul Wing, DEngin; Edward Salsberg, MPA

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:1189-1193.

Objective  To evaluate the effect driver-side and passenger-side airbags have had on the incidence and severity of maxillofacial trauma in victims of automobile accidents.

Design  Retrospective analysis of all automobile (passenger cars and light trucks) accidents reported in 1994.

Setting  New York State.

Patients  Of the 595 910 individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents in New York in 1994, 377 054 individuals were initially selected from accidents involving cars and light trucks. Of this subset, 164 238 drivers and 62 755 right front passengers were selected for analysis.

Main Outcome Measures  Each case is described in a single record with approximately 100 variables describing the accident, eg, vehicle, safety equipment installed and utilized or deployed, occupant position, patient demographics, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnoses, and procedural treatments rendered. A maxillofacial trauma severity scale was devised, based on the ICD-9-CM diagnoses.

Results  Individuals using airbags and seat belts sustained facial injuries at a rate of 1 in 449, compared with a rate of 1 in 40 for individuals who did not use seat belts or airbags (P<.001). Those using airbags alone sustained facial injuries at the intermediate rate of 1 in 148, and victims using seat belts without airbags demonstrated an injury rate of 1 in 217 (P<.001).

Conclusion  Use of driver-side airbags, when combined with use of seat belts, has resulted in a decrease in the incidence and severity of maxillofacial trauma.

From the Division of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Albany Medical Center Hospital, Albany, NY (Drs Mouzakes and Kuhar); the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Dr Koltai); and the State University of New York School of Public Health, Albany (Messrs Bernstein, Wing, and Salsberg). Dr Mouzakes is now with Capital Region Otolaryngology Head and Neck Group, Albany, NY.

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