Motorcycle Helmets and Spinal Injuries: Dispelling the Myth
Annals of Emergency MedicinePublished 1 April 1994
Elizabeth Orsay, Robert L. Muelleman, Timothy D. Peterson, Daniela H. Jurisic, Judith B. Kosasih, Paul A. Levy
Citations38
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TL;DR
In contrast to a significant protective relationship identified for head injuries, helmet use was not associated with an increased or decreased occurrence rate of spinal injuries in motorcycle trauma.
Abstract
In contrast to a significant protective relationship identified for head injuries, helmet use was not associated with an increased or decreased occurrence rate of spinal injuries in motorcycle trauma.
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MedicineEngineering
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123 Citations1984Gregory K. Luna, Ronald V. Maier +3 more
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The American Journal of SurgeryPatterns of injury in helmeted and nonhelmeted motorcyclists
110 Citations1988Ben L. Bachulis, William Sangster +2 more
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90 Citations1990Norman E. McSwain, A. M. Belles
In this era of spiraling health care costs, legislation mandating the use of protective helmets should be considered as a viable alternative to raising taxes.
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75 Citations1985Karlheinz Peter, Gunilla Krantz
In a consecutive series of 132 motorcycle and moped riders killed in 1977-1983 in southern Sweden and examined post mortem, almost half of the fatal injuries of the head and neck occurred remote from the point of impact, namely certain intracranial injuries without fractures, ring fractures of the base of the skull, disruption of the junction of theHead and neck and injury of the cervical spine.
Evaluation ReviewThe Effect of Motorcycle Helmet Use On the Probability of Fatality and the Severity of Head and Neck Injuries
75 Citations1986Jonathan P. Goldstein
It is concluded that motorcycle helmets have no statistically significant effect on the probability of fatality, helmets reduce the severity of head injuries, and past a critical impact speed, helmets increase the severityof neck injuries.
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72 Citations1992Robert L. Muelleman, Edward J Mlinek +1 more
The reenactment of a helmet use law resulted in fewer crashes, fatalities, and severe head injuries, compared with five other midwestern states.
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67 Citations1991Patrick J. Kelly, Tracy Sanson +2 more
Helmet use may reduce the overall severity of injury and the incidence of head injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes and a trend toward higher health care costs was demonstrated in the nonhelmeted patients.
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58 Citations1989D. A. Simpson, Peter Blumbergs +4 more
The use of a helmet modifies the mechanisms of impact head injury; the overall benefits of helmet use are well established, but there is need for more research on helmet design.
The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical CareThe Impact of Motorcycle Helmet Use
55 Citations1992Patrick J. Offner, Frederick P. Rivara +1 more
Investigation of the impact of helmet use on the morbidity and cost of motorcycle trauma, after controlling for non-head injuries found that helmet use decreased the need for and duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of ICU stay, the needs for rehabilitation, and prevented head injury.
JAMAMotorcycle Helmet—Use Laws and Head Injury Prevention
43 Citations1992Daniel M. Sosin
While disagreement remains on the acceptability of the legislative approach, the scientific basis for motorcycle helmet-use laws as a head injury prevention tool appears sound.
The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical CareThoracic Spine Injuries in Victims of Motorcycle Accidents
41 Citations1989John P. Kupferschmid, Mitchell Weaver +2 more
Thoracic spine injuries are more common in patients with severe multisystem trauma and therefore the thorACic spine should be immobilized until full thoraco-cervical spine roentgenography can be carried out.
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40 Citations1992Donna C Nelson, David P. Sklar +2 more
There is an association between nonuse of helmets and alcohol intoxication in fatally injured motorcyclists in New Mexico and strategies for preventing motorcycle fatalities should address alcohol abuse and ethnicity in conjunction with helmet use.
The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical CareIS HELMET USE BENEFICIAL TO MOTORCYCLISTS?
30 Citations1993Vithal G. Wagle, Christopher Perkins +1 more
It is concluded that helmets provide protection and certainly do not increase the incidence of cervical spine injuries.
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29 Citations1991Margie A. Murdock, Kenneth Waxman
Patients injured in motorcycle collisions and treated at a Level I trauma center over a 45-month period had fewer and less severe head and facial injuries; fewer patients who wore helmets were discharged with disability, and hospital charges were lower.
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18 Citations1991Patrick S. Romano, Elizabeth McLoughlin
Several personal and environmental characteristics, including seating position and speed limit, were associated with the probability of helmet use and confirmed that helmet use protects against head injury.
PubMedMoped, minibike, and motorcycle accidents. Associated injury problems.
8 Citations1978John C. Balcerak, Kathleen L. Pancione +1 more
Helmet use, patterns of injury, and medical outcome among motorcycle drivers in Maryland
7 Citations1990Belavadi S. Shankar, Patricia C. Dischinger +3 more
A comprehensive study was conducted in Maryland of all motorcycle traffic crashes occurring during a 1-year period and it was indicated that unhelmeted drivers seen at an emergency department were almost twice as likely to have sustained head injury as were helmeted drivers.
Journal of Head Trauma RehabilitationAlcohol and head trauma: Strategies for prevention
3 Citations1991David H. Jernigan