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Airbags Could Cause Foot, Ankle Trauma

The importance of airbag in vehicles is givendo recover and lead a normal active
greater emphasis when road fatalities soaredlifestyle."
and the figures became alarming that the said
auto feature was deemed indispensable. TheAt the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference,
feature became increasingly popular becausesurgeons discussed less-invasive techniques
of its all-positive offers. However, in afor treating traumatic injuries received in
recent study, it was found that airbags couldmotor vehicle crashes and other incidents.
be  the  cause  of  foot  and  ankle  trauma.The common technique used by surgeons is the
use of internal or external fixation devices.
Members of the American College of Foot andThese devices immobilize the foot and ankle,
Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) said that they havejust like a cast. Internal fixation devices
noticed a significant increase in traumaticuses a series of rods, screws and plates
foot and ankle injuries among patients whoattached to bones, stabilize them to allow
survived auto accidents. And the cause -proper  healing.
airbags!
Jerry Cremeans, a Lincoln County High School
The federal government initiated theautomotive teacher, is educating his students
imposition of dual front airbags requirementabout the power of airbags. He said all
in passenger cars in the year 1998. Sincedrivers, especially younger drivers, need to
then, a number of studies have been conductedbe aware of the powerful force they sit
to know whether airbags are responsible forbehind  every  day.
the increasing lower extremity injuries.
According to a federal report, drivers in airCremeans added that airbags explode at 175
bag equipped cars suffer more than 17,600mph to 200 mph. He noted that if car
lower extremity injuries every year.occupants are not positioned properly, an
One-third of those are to the foot and ankle.airbag can be extremely dangerous, even
The trauma though is not life threatening. Itdeadly. But he said airbags have saved more
may just result to limited mobility that thelives than they have hurt. He added that as
affected individual may necessitate months orlong as drivers are educated, an airbag is a
years of rehabilitation and physical therapy.life-saving  tool.
It  may  also  lead  to  multiple  surgeries.
Cremeans said drivers need to position
"We see trauma we never saw before," saidthemselves at least 10 inches away from the
ACFAS President James L. Thomas, DPM, FACFASsteering wheel, in order for the airbag to
who is also a foot and ankle trauma surgeonwork properly. "I'm trying to make this to
at the University of Alabama, Birminghamwhere everybody gets a little bit of
Hospital. "A decade ago, these patients wouldknowledge of what's in front of you when you
have died from head trauma or other uppersit down at that wheel or passenger side,"
body injuries. Now, thanks to seat belts andCremeans  concluded.
air  bags,  they  survive."
Basically, the auto knowledge should not only
Thomas added, "Many patients who suffer footrevolve around engines, radiators and Weapon
and ankle trauma in an auto crash -- with orR cold air intake but should include safety
without air bags -- face a long road toand protection.
recovery. But the good news is, many patients



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