Typical situation: Vehicle goes through a red light or stop sign at high speed into a vehicle crossing at 90 degrees.
Parameters:
(1) impacted vehicle related factors
(2) impacting vehicle factors
(3) occupant factors
Impacted vehicle related factors:
(1) side impact panel
(2) head and torso side air bags
(3) lateral intrusion (< 30 cm vs >= 30 cm)
Impacting vehicle factors:
(1) speed
(2) vehicle mismatch (higher or heavier than impacted car)
(3) side of impact relative to occupant (same side worse than opposite side)
Occupant factors:
(1) age of the patient (injuries tend to be more serious in older patients)
(2) use of restraints (proper use is protective)
(3) distance from the point of impact
Important injuries in side impacts include:
(1) splenic rupture
(2) head injury (if no head level side airbag is present)
(3) aortic injury
(4) occult thoracic and abdominal injuries
(5) pelvic injuries
