An airbag can also be fatal

This article presents the injury pattern of a driver after a frontal collision with airbag deployment when the seat belt was not worn. The patient had only minor external injuries on initial examination. The CT scan revealed a nondisplaced fracture of the dens. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) carried out later showed secondary dislocation of the fracture with myelon contusion and discoligamentous lacerations at C5-T1. After surgical treatment the patient died as a result of the sequelae of a complete paraplegic syndrome. At autopsy there was brain swelling and a zone of contusion in the upper cervical medulla. Unexpectedly, there was no hemorrhage or tearing of the tissue. The structural peculiarity of the axis is discussed and the accident is reconstructed on the basis of the injury pattern and the autopsy findings.

Automated summary

This article discusses a case of a driver who was injured in a frontal collision without wearing a seat belt. The patient initially had minor external injuries, but further CT and MRI scans revealed fractures, spinal cord injuries, and ultimately led to the patient's death. Autopsy results showed brain swelling and nerve damage, but surprisingly no bleeding or tissue tearing was found.