Toward a comprehensive biomechanical injury cost model

Integrated model of simulated occupant injury risk and real medical costs

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to develop an integrated methodology that links occupant injury risk functions, estimated in the laboratory, with real world medical treatment costs by using the abbreviated injury score (AIS). Using our model, the expected medical treatment costs for crash injuries to various body regions and of different severities can be investigated.

METHODS

First, the simulation results are compared with NHTSA crash data. We used a modified kinematics simulation model that incorporates an F=E(b) function as a supplement to the previous Steffan's model to obtain a more accurate acceleration history a(t). Second, head injury criteria HIC(36) can be calculated from a(t), and we use the injury probability P as a function of HIC(36,) as proposed by Kuppa, to obtain the injury risk function for various AIS values. Third, medical treatment cost models for various AIS values can be calculated by using a regression cost model with real world data. Finally, the injury risk function and medical treatment cost models are linked through AIS values. We establish an integrated methodology and predict medical costs and car safety data using real world police reports, medical treatment costs, and laboratory simulation results.

RESULTS

Using head injuries in frontal crashes as an example, we focus on simulation parameters for different vehicle models, with and without airbags. We specifically examine impact closing speed, Delta-V, and impact directions.

CONCLUSION

Simulation results can be used to supplement insufficient real crash data, in particular DeltaV, and injury risk results from police crash reports.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY

The proposed integrated methodology may provide the vehicle industry with a new safety assessment method. Real crash data coupling provides consumers with more realistic and applicable information.

Crash costs by body part injured, fracture involvement, and threat-to-life severity. United States, 2000

This paper presents costs per US motor vehicle crash victim differentiated into many more diagnostic categories than prior estimates. These unit costs, which include the first keyed to the 1990 edition of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) threat-to-life severity scores, are reported by body part, whether a fracture/dislocation was involved, and the maximum AIS score among the victim's injuries. This level of detail allows for a more accurate estimation of the social costs of motor vehicle crashes. It also allows for reliable analyses of interventions targeting narrow ranges of injuries. The paper updates the medical care data underlying the US crash costs from 1979 to 1986 to the mid 1990s and improves on prior productivity cost estimates. In addition to presenting the latest generation of crash victim costs, this paper analyzes the effects of applying injury costs classified by AIS code from the 1985 edition to injury incidence data coded with the 1990 edition of AIS. This long-standing practice results in inaccurate cost-benefit analyses that typically overestimate benefits. This problem is more acute when old published costs adjusted for inflation are used rather than the recent costs.

Biomechanical epidemiology: a new approach to injury control research

Injury control studies, from inception and design to dissemination of results, tend to remain within individual discipline. This is largely because each of the disciplines has a unique language and approach to research. Collaborative research is often performed serially with one discipline presenting the results of that discipline's studies to another discipline. Epidemiologists and clinicians tell engineers to design a safety technology to prevent a specific injury. Engineers tell lawyers what is feasible to include in standards. As a result, epidemiological studies lack mechanical data needed by the engineers and engineering studies lack generalizability. The procedure for incorporating the best of multiple disciplines throughout the performance of injury control studies has not existed until recently and is presented conceptually in this manuscript. This new approach, Biomechanical Epidemiology, is an exciting enhancement to current injury control research.