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