Tree collisions in road traffic accidents - mechanism and pattern of injury

INTRODUCTION: In Germany, the county of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has got the highest frequency of traffic accidents. 42 % of all deadly injured car accident victims in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern sustained a tree collision. Aim of this study was to analyze tree collisions regarding typical pattern and severity of injury. METHODS: During an on-going prospective, non-interventional accident survey within a defined area of the county of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern tree collisions with minimum one victim sustaining a Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale of 1-6 injury were analyzed. RESULTS: In between January 2001 and June 2004 287 accidents were documented. 19 % (54) were tree collisions. 81 % of drivers were male. 36 of 54 tree collisions (67 %) occurred on straight roadways. The mean ISS was 31.3 (SD +/- 29.8), 30 % (23) of the passengers died. 70 of 78 individuals sustained more than one injury. With that, the combination of head- and chest trauma was most frequent and associated with the highest injury severity. DISCUSSION: Especially tree collisions lead to severe trauma. Interestingly, most accidents did occur on straight roadways.