BICYCLE RIDING AND ORAL MAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMA IN YOUNG-CHILDREN/

Objectives: To investigate the frequency of oral/maxillofacial injurie s in children who have had a bicycle incident and to relate this to th e wearing of a protective helmet. Design: Part of a larger prospective study in which self-administered questionnaires were completed by eac h child with bicycle-related injuries and their parents or caregivers. Setting: Two tertiary-referral children's hospitals (between 1 April 1991 and 30 June 1992) and three general hospitals (between 1 August 1 991 and 30 June 1992) in Brisbane. Participants: 813 children aged und er 15 years who presented to the accident and emergency departments wi th bicycle-related injuries. Results: There were 321 children (39.5%) who sustained oral/maxillofacial injuries. Of 1355 injuries, 340 (25.1 %) were to the facial region. Of the 153 children admitted to hospital for bicycle-related injuries, 94 (61.4%) had oral/maxillofacial injur y as the primary reason for admission (including those with a reduced level of consciousness). Of the 66 children with a reduced level of co nsciousness, 53 had concomitant facial injuries. The most common oral/ maxillofacial injuries were facial abrasions, cuts and lacerations (50 .3%); soft tissue injuries to the mouth (30.9%); and dentoalveolar tra uma (9.7%). Over half of these children were wearing bicycle helmets. Of the 15 facial fractures (mandibular, nasal, and zygomatico-orbital) , 10 were in children wearing helmets. Conclusions: Oral/maxillofacial injuries are frequent among child bicycle riders, even for those who wear Australian Standards-approved bicycle helmets. Bicycle helmets ne ed design modifications (e.g., lightweight chin protectors) to more ad equately protect the face and jaw.