PATTERN OF MOTORCYCLE INJURIES SUSTAINED BY MOTORCYCLISTS IN VICTORIA IN 1974 AND 1975

The clinical records and radiographs of 212 motorcyclists admitted to four hospitals in Victoria, Australia during 1974 and 1975 were examined, and 90 victims were interviewed. The injury patterns of 100 motorcycle fatalities in the state between 1973 and 1974 were examined for comparative purposes. While nearly all the fatalities were the result of head or trunk injuries, the surviving motorcyclists' severe injuries were confined mainly to the extremities. Among the survivors, there was a very high percentage of severe crush injuries to the lower extremities, particularly the lower part of the leg. These injuries included compound fractures of the tibia and fibula and serious intraarticular injuries such as fracture dislocations of the ankle joint, tarsus and metatarsus, and fracture dislocations of the femoral and tibial condyles involving the knee joint. Intraarticular injuries often left severe sequelae with painful, stiff, and subsequently arthritic joints. Although there was no accurate record of helmet performance, there is no doubt that the use of a safety helmet saved many of the cyclists from death and serious injury. Of the 212 patients, only 11 (5%) had cerebral injury with Abbreviated Injury Scale greater than 2, six of whom were left with neurological damage. There were no cervical spine injuries, and there was a surprising absence of perineal damage to the scrotum, urethra, and bladder in view of the motorcycle riding position. There was a particularly low incidence of fractured pelvis among the patients.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conference held in Washington, D.C., 18-23 May 1980. Also published in HS-029 702, International Motorcycle Safety Conference Proceedings. Volume 3, p 1179-87. Appended tables and figures omitted.
• Corporate Authors:

  Motorcycle Safety Foundation

  780 Elkridge Landing Road
  Linthicum, MD  United States  21090
• Authors:
  • Dooley, B J
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fatalities; Head; Helmets; Injuries; Leg; Motorcyclists
• Uncontrolled Terms: Head injuries
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390515
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 712
• Files: HSL, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM