| The importance of airbag in vehicles is given | | | | do recover and lead a normal active |
| greater emphasis when road fatalities soared | | | | lifestyle." |
| and the figures became alarming that the said | | | | |
| auto feature was deemed indispensable. The | | | | At the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference, |
| feature became increasingly popular because | | | | surgeons discussed less-invasive techniques |
| of its all-positive offers. However, in a | | | | for treating traumatic injuries received in |
| recent study, it was found that airbags could | | | | motor 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 and | | | | These devices immobilize the foot and ankle, |
| Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) said that they have | | | | just like a cast. Internal fixation devices |
| noticed a significant increase in traumatic | | | | uses a series of rods, screws and plates |
| foot and ankle injuries among patients who | | | | attached 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 the | | | | automotive teacher, is educating his students |
| imposition of dual front airbags requirement | | | | about the power of airbags. He said all |
| in passenger cars in the year 1998. Since | | | | drivers, especially younger drivers, need to |
| then, a number of studies have been conducted | | | | be aware of the powerful force they sit |
| to know whether airbags are responsible for | | | | behind every day. |
| the increasing lower extremity injuries. | | | | |
| According to a federal report, drivers in air | | | | Cremeans added that airbags explode at 175 |
| bag equipped cars suffer more than 17,600 | | | | mph 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. It | | | | deadly. But he said airbags have saved more |
| may just result to limited mobility that the | | | | lives than they have hurt. He added that as |
| affected individual may necessitate months or | | | | long 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," said | | | | themselves at least 10 inches away from the |
| ACFAS President James L. Thomas, DPM, FACFAS | | | | steering wheel, in order for the airbag to |
| who is also a foot and ankle trauma surgeon | | | | work properly. "I'm trying to make this to |
| at the University of Alabama, Birmingham | | | | where everybody gets a little bit of |
| Hospital. "A decade ago, these patients would | | | | knowledge of what's in front of you when you |
| have died from head trauma or other upper | | | | sit down at that wheel or passenger side," |
| body injuries. Now, thanks to seat belts and | | | | Cremeans concluded. |
| air bags, they survive." | | | | |
| | | | Basically, the auto knowledge should not only |
| Thomas added, "Many patients who suffer foot | | | | revolve around engines, radiators and Weapon |
| and ankle trauma in an auto crash -- with or | | | | R cold air intake but should include safety |
| without air bags -- face a long road to | | | | and protection. |
| recovery. But the good news is, many patients | | | | |