News briefs

New F1 “halo” head protection may compromise steering

The halo-type head protection system mandated for Formula One racing may affect the drivers’ head position and motion, potentially compromising steering accuracy, according to a new simulation led by Curtin University researchers. The case study, published in the journal BMJ Case Reports, examined the use of the halo frontal cockpit protection system – a titanium arc fitted to the open cockpit of a racing car – in a 70-year-old amateur racing driver with more than 10 years’ driving experience at the national level. The halo system was mandated by the motor sports’ governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile for the 2018 Formula One season, following the death of French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi after a crash during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. In the study, muscle movement, fatigue and steering were measured using special sensors, electrodes (electromyography), and GPS trackers with and without the halo device during two warm-up laps and 10 “flying” laps. Analysis indicated that the muscle workload differed when the halo was fitted to the car, suggesting that the position of the driver’s head was affected. The authors acknowledge that the data are not complete; they suggest that the altered position might mean that the driver is less able to stabilise his head and neck, possibly leading to greater risk of neck injury and whiplash. Muscle fatigue was also uneven, suggesting that movement of the driver’s head was also affected when the halo was fitted to the cockpit, which may similarly boost the risk of neck injury. Lead author Dr Simon Rosalie said, “This case study suggests the halo system affects the head position and movement for drivers, which may [have an impact on] their navigation and the accuracy of steering.” He said the research indicated there may be a need for training and ergonomic adjustment to compensate for its effect on head position and movement.

http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2018/bcr-2017-224013

Tonsil, adenoid removal associated with long term respiratory risks

Researchers from the Universities of Melbourne and Copenhagen have found that removing tonsils and adenoids in childhood increases the long-term risk of respiratory, allergic and infectious diseases. In a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the research team analysed a dataset from Denmark for 1 189 061 children born as singletons between 1979 and 1999, and whose health was evaluated until 2009. They found that 17 460 had had adenoidectomies, 11 830 tonsillectomies, and 31 377 adeno-tonsillectomies before the age of 9 years. Tonsillectomy was associated with an almost three-fold increase in diseases of the upper respiratory tract by the age of 30 years, including asthma, influenza, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The absolute risk (which takes into account how common these diseases are in the community) was also substantially increased, by 18.6%. Adenoidectomy was found to be linked with a greater than two-fold relative risk of COPD and a doubled relative risk of upper respiratory tract diseases and conjunctivitis; the absolute risk was also almost twice as high for upper respiratory diseases, but there was only a small increase for COPD, as this is generally a rarer condition in people under 30. Adenoidectomy was also associated with a significantly reduced risk of sleep disorders; the risk of abnormal breathing was not altered by any surgery type, nor was that of sinusitis after tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. The relative risk for otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear) was increased four- or five-fold in those who had undergone adeno-tonsillectomy, and the risk of sinusitis was also significantly increased.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2683621