Factors Influencing Injury Tolerance
A number of factors influence the extent and severity of injuries experienced by victims of motor vehicle accidents.
List of Injury Tolerance Factors
- how long after the accident treatment was initiated
- the type of treatment received
- patient compliance to the treatment plan
- the nature of the accident (frontal, rear, side impact collision or a combination)
- severity of accident (i.e. automobile speeds)
- the size and speed of your vehicle and other vehicles involved
- whether or not seat belts were worn
- whether you were aware of the impending accident
- the height of the head rest
- the age of the individual (elderly and children more susceptible to the forces involved in MVA's)
- the size and strength of the individual - more specifically, their spinal musculature
- the presence of preexisting spinal conditions
Findings from a recent Canadian study, published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, indicate that the following patient and crash characteristics lead to a poorer prognosis...
The prognosis for recovery was poor if:
- there were additional injuries besides whiplash,
- the patient was female, elderly or had dependents,
- the crash was severe, involved a truck or bus,
- the injured party was not wearing a seat belt.
