RESUMO
PURPOSE: To Investigate the patterns and to document the clinical and technical significances of the leg injuries of drivers of short-fronted vehicles in frontal collision accidents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve cases of jammed leg injury were chosen from hospitals in the Chungcheong Province area and investigated in terms of nature of the accident, distribution of injuries, methods and duration of treatment and final sequelae. RESULTS: The patients had multiple injuries on the lower extremities, such as, fractures of the femoral shaft, tibial shaft, foot and ankle and soft tissue injuries, requiring an average 8.3 surgical procedures and 7 months admission, and from which permanent sequlae resulted, though associated injuries of the head, chest, abdomen were not significant. CONCLUSION: "Jammed leg injury" seemed to be related with the design of short-fronted vehicles. As these injuries can cause considerable functional and socioeconomic loss with long treatment periods and permanent residual sequelae. Preventive measures appear to be necessary, possibly involving vehicle design modification.