Severity of Placental Abruption in Restrained Pregnant Vehicle Drivers: Correct Seat Belt Use Confirmed by Finite Element Model Analysis

Katsunori Tanaka, Yasuki Motozawa, Kentaro Takahashi, Tetsuo Maki, Mami Nakamura and Masahito Hitosugi ()
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Katsunori Tanaka: Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Japan
Yasuki Motozawa: Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Japan
Kentaro Takahashi: Hino Memorial Hospital, Hino 529-1642, Japan
Tetsuo Maki: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo City University, Tokyo 158-8557, Japan
Mami Nakamura: Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Japan
Masahito Hitosugi: Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: Despite wearing a seat belt, pregnant drivers often suffer from negative fetal outcomes in the event of motor accidents. In order to maintain the safety of pregnant drivers and their fetuses, we assessed the severity of placental abruption caused by motor vehicle collisions using computer simulations. We employed a validated pregnant finite element model to determine the area of placental abruption. We investigated frontal vehicle collisions with a speed of 40 km/h or less involving restrained pregnant drivers with a gestational age of 30 weeks. For a crash speed of 40 km/h, the placental abruption area was 7.0% with a correctly positioned lap belt across the lower abdomen; it was 36.3% with the belt positioned at the umbilicus. The area of placental abruption depended on collision speed, but we found that with a correctly positioned belt it likely would not lead to negative fetal outcomes. We examined the effects on placental abruptions of reconfiguring seat belt width and force limiter setting. A wider lap belt and lower force limiter setting reduced the area of placental abruption to 3.5% and 1.1%, respectively; however, they allowed more forward movement upon collision. A 2.5 kN force limiter setting may be appropriate with respect to both forward movement and reduced placental abruption area. This study confirmed the importance of correctly using seat belts for pregnant drivers. It provides valuable evidence about improving safety equipment settings.

Keywords: pregnant women; motor vehicle collision; placental abruption; numerical simulation; finite element model; seat belt; safety equipment; anterior superior iliac spine; sled test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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