Laryngeal Injuries From a Full Face Helmet: A Report of Two Cases

Laryngeal injuries from blunt trauma are rare but potentially fatal. This paper describes two cases of blunt laryngeal injury caused by an unusual mechanism: direct laryngeal impact by the jaw guard of a full face helmet. In the first case, a mountain biker wearing a full face helmet fell five feet onto her face, twisting the helmet down so that the jaw guard was pressed against her anterior neck. In the second case, a motorcyclist wearing a full face helmet was hit from behind by a car and thrown from the motorcycle. In both cases, the jaw guard of the helmet was instrumental in exerting a direct impact on the larynx. These cases suggest that further research into the mechanism and incidence of neck injury in different types of helmets may be warranted, and that design specifications for jaw guards may need to be modified.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00225282
• Authors:
  • Kim, Peter T W
  • Van Heest, Rardi
  • Anderson, Don W
  • Simons, Richard K
• Publication Date: 2006-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 998-1000
• Serial:
  • Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection and Critical Care
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
  • ISSN: 0022-5282

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle crashes; Cyclists; Design; Helmets; Injuries; Injury causes; Injury types; Medical case reports; Motorcycle crashes; Motorcyclists; Neck
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01038411
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 29 2006 11:06AM