Highlights
- •This study evaluated the preventive effect of helmet use on cervical spine injuries during motorcycle crashes.
- •A case–control study was conducted using data from the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance registry in Korea.
- •A total 2,600 patients were analysed, and 1,145 (44.0%) used helmet at the time of motorcycle crashes.
- •The helmet group was less likely to have cervical spine injury [adjusted OR, 0.62 (0.51–0.77)].
- •Helmet use has been shown to help prevent ICU admission and mortality [adjusted OR, 0.45 (0.36–0.56) and 0.32 (0.21–0.51), respectively].
Abstract
Introduction
Helmet use during motorcycle crashes (MCCs) has been shown to reduce traumatic brain
injury and mortality. However, preventive effects of its use on cervical spine injury
remain controversial. In this study, we evaluated whether helmet use can reduce cervical
spine injury during MCCs.
Patients and Methods
A case–control study using data from the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth
Surveillance (EDIIS) registry was conducted. Cases were defined as patients with cervical
spine injury [≥2 points in the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)] in MCCs from 2011 to
2016. Four controls were matched to one case with strata which included age and sex
from the EDIIS registry. Primary outcome was cervical spine injury, secondary outcome
was intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and tertiary outcomes was mortality. Multivariable
logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence
intervals (CIs) to evaluate the associations between helmet use and related outcomes.
Results
In total, 2600 patients were analysed; among these, 1145 (44.0%) used helmets at the
time of crashes. The helmet group showed lower alcohol consumption and mortality rates
than the no helmet group (alcohol: 3.2% vs. 9.2%, respectively, and mortality: 2.4%
vs. 7.1%, respectively; p < 0.01). Compared with the no helmet group, the helmet group was less likely to
have cervical spine injury [adjusted OR, 0.62 (0.51–0.77)]. In addition, helmet use
has been shown to help prevent ICU admission and mortality [adjusted OR, 0.45 (0.36–0.56)
and 0.32 (0.21–0.51), respectively].
Conclusion
Helmet use was found to have significant preventive effects on cervical spine injury
during MCCs.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 22, 2019
Accepted:
January 17,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
