We reviewed 13 cases from records of hospitalized patients who had fractures or dislocations of lower extremities following traffic accidents between the period of 1988 and 1992. Their injuries were caused by severe automobile crashes while they were either in the drivers' or passengers' seat.
We studied the characteristics of these fractures.
In accidents caused by the drivers' falling asleep, fractures or dislocations were only seen at more than the knee level, but in accidents caused by other reasons, not only femoral fractures but also ankle, and foot fractures were recognized. We believed two different mechanism to be causing fractures. We also found some patients with severe complications, especially in one patient with fat embolism syndrome.