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Abstract
We studied 1160 consecutive craniofacial injuries sustained by unhelmeted motorbike
riders in Taipei, Taiwan, between 1990 and 1993, in order to investigate the distribution,
type and severity of these injuries. The average age of the victims was 31 years (SD
13.2), with 84 per cent of them being between ages 16 and 45. The facial and cranial
areas were defined as being separated by the line between eyebrows and ears. The incidence
of facial injuries was the same as that of cranial injuries (both 68 per cent). While
facial injuries occurred most often in the cheek and chin, most cranial injuries occurred
in the forehead and parietal region. Although the majority of facial injuries resulted
in mild brain injuries, they may also cause serious cosmetic problems, and some were
associated with serious brain damage. Motorbike riders need good face protection.
Since most motorbikes in Taipei travel relatively slowly, these results may also apply
to bicyclists; in other words, cyclists may also need good face protection.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 19,
1995
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
