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Biomedical subjects

U Björnstig

Publications and source records attributed to U Björnstig.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Head and face injuries in bicyclists--with special reference to possible effects of helmet use.

Fatal and nonfatal head and face injuries to unhelmeted bicyclists were analyzed to assess the injury-reducing potential of bicycle helmet use. Of the fatally injured, 64% (median age, 55 years) had fatal head and face injuries compared with 38% (median age, 18 years) with head and face injuries in the nonfatal injury group. The fatally injured often had multiple impact points, mostly to the occipital and temporal regions. Brain contusions, most often to the frontal and temporal lobes, were the most common cause of fatal injury, followed by subdural hematomas. In the nonfatal injury group abrasions/lacerations were most common type of injury, followed by cerebral concussions/contusions and superficial contusions. If all types of injuries to bicyclists are taken into account a helmet might have had an injury-reducing effect in two of every five fatal cases and in one of every five nonfatal cases. To increase the helmet use among bicyclists, a law, as in Australia, would be an excellent instrument.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Accidents in the north. Some aspects on snowmobile accidents and moose-car collisions.

Snowmobile accidents and moose-car crashes are typical accidents in Northern Sweden. In this region there is about 1 snowmobile/10 inhabitants. The present paper combines previously published studies. The studies on snowmobile accidents are based on a material comprising all 61 fatally injured snowmobile drivers from the four northern counties of Sweden during the period 1973-1987. The helmet usage was analyzed in two clinical study populations including 200 injured from the county of Västerbotten from two periods 1979-1980 and 1985-86. Of the fatally injured (median age 32 years) 86% were driving under the influence of alcohol with a mean blood alcohol concentration of 0.17 g/ml. Serious head injuries were uncommon among persons driving without a helmet in the clinical material. Only in about 6% of the cases an open face helmet would probably have had an injury reducing effect. Drunken driving is an important etiological factor for fatal snowmobile accidents. Preventive measures must include information that the Traffic Temperance Law also applies to snowmobile riding. A helmet law for snowmobile riders does not seem to be motivated from the injury reduction point of view. According to official Swedish police statistics more than 400 car occupants are injured annually in crashes with a moose. The crash mechanism is special. Because of its long legs the body of the moose hits directly against the windshield, windshield pillars and front roof. During a period of three years 154 injured passenger car occupants were treated in the hospitals in Umeå and Skellefteå. Of both the front and rear seat occupants 80% suffered laceration injuries from glass or glass splinters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

Injuries to the elderly in the traffic environment.

Two hundred ninety-seven persons, all aged 60 or over (180 women, 117 men), injured in the traffic environment, and treated at the Regional Hospital in Umeå, over a one-year period, were analysed. Injuries were grouped into three main categories: falls (52%), vehicle-associated events (44%), and "other" injury events (4%). In women, falls were a more common cause of injury than vehicle events, whilst in men there was a tendency for a converse relationship. Two-thirds of the falls involved slipping on ice and snow. Ice- and snow- related injuries (all categories) accounted for 37% of the total cost of all injuries in the elderly in the traffic environment. The main groups in the vehicle-associated injury category were cyclists (48%), car occupants (34%), other occupants (14%), and pedestrians (4%). Vehicle-associated injuries became more common with advancing age, resulted in the most severe and critical [Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) greater than or equal to 4] injuries and the most fatalities, and cost (total and mean) more than falls. In conclusion, from the injury cost point of view, it is most important to prevent vehicle-associated injuries. However, when total frequencies are considered, falls deserve to be given just as much priority in injury prevention programs as vehicle-associated injuries, to make the traffic environment safer for this growing population.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed1991

Injuries caused by animals.

Injuries caused by animals and treated at the University Hospital of Umeå were analysed. Dogs caused nearly one-half of the injuries, while horses caused one-third of the injuries and the highest number of fractures. The 'cost' of treatment and sickness benefit was fairly evenly distributed between horse-, cattle-, and dog-related injuries. The average 'cost' per injured person was, however, highest in those injured in cattle accidents and moose-car collisions. The impact of animal-related injuries on the health care and social security systems was similar to occupational accidents and car accidents in several respects.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Eye injuries in northern Sweden.

An analysis of 927 eye injuries treated at the University Hospital of Umeå, Northern Sweden, during a one-year period has been made. The estimated incidence was 8.1 per 1000 population. 86% of the injured were men. An overrepresentation of severe injuries were found in children and young adults, aged 10-19 years. 94.5% of the injuries were minor. The most common diagnosis was foreign body adherent to cornea or conjunctiva (40%). All chemical injuries were superficial. One-third of the sports injuries were caused by hockey-bockey and indoor bandy. Most of these were major injuries. The total cost of the injuries was assessed at SEK 1300,000. More information to the public concerning use of safety glasses and potential risks of eye trauma could reduce eye injury incidence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Trauma in the elderly: the impact on the health care system.

The impact of injuries in the elderly on the acute health care system was assessed in terms of the cost of injuries. The cost of injuries in the elderly (greater than or equal to 60 years) was compared with that in the younger group (less than 60 years) in a health district in northern Sweden. Even though the elderly made up only one sixth of the total injured during a one year period, they accounted for 42% of the total cost of the medical care of injuries. The mean medical care cost increased significantly from the age of 60 years; the cost was four times higher in the older group than in the younger group. Severe injuries in the elderly cost almost 2.5 times more than those in the younger group. In conclusion, since the elderly place a heavy burden on the health care system, they urgently need to be given priority in injury research and injury intervention programmes.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1991

School injuries. Epidemiology and clinical features of 307 cases registered at hospital during one school year.

Injuries at school were studied for one school year in 57 primary and three secondary schools (13,733 students, aged 7-19 years) at Umeå in northern Sweden. The injury rate was 22/1000 student years. There was a wide variation in injury rate between different schools. The boy/girl ratio was 1.1/1. Physical education was the dominating activity at the time of injury for the older students and play in the school yard for the younger. The majority of the students had a minor injury, but 17% had a fracture. The injured students did not seem to have more somatic, psychological or social problems than students in general. Fewer competitive sports and ball games and more adult supervision and organized activities during breaks are suggestions to reduce injuries at school. A hospital-based injury registration system is well fitted for serving as a base for analysing school injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Soft-tissue injury of the neck in a hospital based material.

In a study from northern Sweden, 139 patients with a history of a soft-tissue injury of the neck were studied. The incidence was 1 per 1000 inhabitants. Male patients in the age group 20-29 years were most commonly injured. Traffic accidents constituted the major group with 96 (69%) and falls with 24 (17%). Forty-one cases received sickness benefit for a median time of 16 days for males and 25 days for females. Five persons were on sick-leave for over a year. The calculated total cost of treatment and sickness insurance benefit was about 0.9 million SEK/year.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Unintentional injuries among elderly people: incidence, causes, severity, and costs.

People aged 60 years or older (1,313 injured) treated for unintentional injuries at the emergency department of the Regional Hospital in Umeå, Sweden, over a period of one year were included in the material. The injury, fracture, and mortality rates per 1,000 persons aged 60 years or over were 57, 31, and 0.6, respectively. The causes of injuries were falls (70%), vehicle accidents (10%), and other (20%). Injury incidence, severity of injuries, proportion of injuries that were fractures, femur neck fracture frequency, duration of hospitalization, and mean costs of medical care increased with age of patients. Women had a higher injury rate, more severe injuries, longer duration in hospital, and higher cost of medical care than men. The cost of medical care of this group of elderly, making up 15% of all injured in the primary admission area, was SEK* 14 million; this being almost half the cost for all injured. Since the elderly population, especially the very old, is expected to increase in the future, prevention of falls (taking up 80% of total treatment costs) and vehicle accidents (causing the most critical injuries) is of utmost importance.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1989

Fatalities caused by nonvenomous animals: a ten-year summary from Sweden.

All 58 deaths caused by nonvenomous animals in Sweden 1975-1984 were scrutinized. In 38 cases horses were involved, in 16 cattle and in one case each a moose, a lion, a dog and a ram. In the horse-related fatalities, the most common cause of accident was that the horse bolted or reared, causing the rider to fall off the horse or the cart or sulky. Falls were thus associated with 22 horse-related deaths. In cattle-related accidents, all fatalities where the cause of accident was known occurred due to aggressive behaviour of the animal. In horse-related accidents, head injuries dominated, while in cattle-related accidents head and chest injuries were equally common. It is suggested that wearing a proper helmet is the most important safety measure in horse-related activities. In cattle-related activities, the herding of untethered bulls together with cows is particularly dangerous and should be avoided.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Snowy roofs--a potential hazard.

An accumulation of injuries and fatal accidents associated with shovelling snow from roofs was observed in the beginning of 1986 in Northern Sweden. Injury mechanisms and injury panorama are analyzed and preventive measures are suggested. Slipping on roofs or ladders, often caused by sliding snow, was a common cause of accident. Five subjects died of suffocation after having been buried under sliding snow. We would like to emphasize the importance of a co-worker when shovelling snow off roofs, of being well anchored by a safety-line and, if using a ladder, taking care that the ladder is well anchored and that the shovelling is not done on an ascent. Special snow conditions should also be noticed.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1986

Tobogganing and sledging accidents. Mechanisms and injuries.

A series of 271 children, injured in tobogganing and sledging accidents was studied. The typical victim in a tobogganing accident was a 5-year-old child and in a sledging accident, an 8-year-old boy. Most accidents occurred on a slope especially designated for tobogganing and sledging. Despite this, the most common accident was a collision with an obstruction. Fractures made up 41% of the injuries, and 17% of all the injured children needed admission to hospital. An elimination of trees, poles and other obstructions from these slopes would reduce the injuries, and children should not be allowed to ride these vehicles near public roads and streets.

Accidents↗
PubMed1986

Collisions with passenger cars and moose, Sweden.

The number of collisions between motor vehicles and moose is increasing in many countries. Collisions with large, high animals such as moose cause typical rear- and downward deformation of the windshield pillars and front roof, most pronounced for small passenger cars; the injury risk increases with the deformation of the car. A strengthening of the windshield pillars and front roof and the use of antilacerative windshields would reduce the injury risk to car occupants.

Accidents, Traffic↗