THE ROLE OF HELMETS IN REDUCING HEAD INJURIES FROM MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS: A POLITICAL OR MEDICAL ISSUE?

The cases of 311 motorcycle accident victims who were seen at a major trauma center over 17 months were reviewed. The types and severity of injuries were standardized according to the Injury Severity Score (ISS) for motor vehicle accidents. Victims were categorized into groups: helmet or no helmet and major, minor or no head injury. Major injury was defined as a 3 on the Abbreviated Injury Scale for "head" (loss of consciousness for at least 15 minutes with or without skull fracture and with or without neurological deficit). The following conclusions are drawn: (1) The death rate for those with and without helmets was not significantly different, (2) the victims of fatal accidents had identical total ISS scores regardless of the presence of helmets, (3) the chance of sustaining a severe head injury was significantly higher in the no helmet group and (4) the incidence of long-term neurological defect was three times greater in the no helmet group.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00930415
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Direct requests for reprints to Michael R Oreskovich at Harborview Medical Center.
• Corporate Authors:

  California Medical Association

  731 Market Street
  San Francisco, CA  United States  94103
• Authors:
  • Luna, G K
  • Copass, M K
  • Oreskovich, M R
  • Carrico, C J
• Publication Date: 1981-7

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 89-92
• Serial:
  • Western Journal of Medicine
  • Volume: 135
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: California Medical Association
  • ISSN: 0093-0415

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash severity; Crash victims; Head; Helmets; Injuries; Motorcycles; Traffic crashes
• Identifier Terms: Abbreviated Injury Scale
• Uncontrolled Terms: Motor vehicle accidents
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00367641
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-033 098
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1982 12:00AM