More Helmets Fewer Deaths: Motorcycle Helmet Legislation Impacts Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Mortality in Young Adults

With the significant increase in motorcycle ridership over the last decade has come an increase in crash injuries and fatalities among motorcyclists. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries sustained in motorcycle collisions (MCCs) and the leading case of fatality. Helmet use has been identified as the most effective prevention strategy against TBI. While many U.S. states have implemented helmet laws, others have age-restricted helmet use legislation. Debate continues over whether universal helmet legislation is effective in preventing injury to young trauma patients as compared with those laws targeting motorcycle riders under the age of 18 and 21. In this study, the authors evaluate the impact of helmet legislation on the incidence and mortality rate of MCC-related TBI in young adult trauma patients under the age of 21. A retrospective cohort analysis is performed of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. A total of 587 patients with <21 years of age and motorcycle accidents in 29 states are included in the study. The results reveal a lower incidence of TBI and mortality in states with universal helmet legislation in place as compared with states with age-restricted helmet legislation. The authors suggest that the implementation of universal helmet legislation across the states could serve to reduce the incidence of TBI.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/sesc/tas/2017/00000083/00000006/art00016
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00031348
• Authors:
  • Hassan, Ahmed
  • Jokar, Tahereh Orouji
  • Rhee, Peter
  • Ibraheem, Kareem
  • Kulvatunyou, Narong
  • Anderson, Kathryn Tinsley
  • Gries, Lynn
  • Roward, Zachary Thomas
  • Joseph, Bellal
• Publication Date: 2017-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 541-546
• Serial:
  • American Surgeon
  • Volume: 83
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Southeastern Surgical Congress
  • ISSN: 0003-1348
  • EISSN: 1555-9823
  • Serial URL: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/sesc/tas

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash severity; Fatalities; Highway safety; Impact studies; Legislation; Motorcycle crashes; Motorcycle helmets; Traffic crash victims; Traumatic brain injuries; Young adults
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01655996
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 2 2018 10:43AM