CRANIOFACIAL TRAUMA IN INJURED MOTORCYCLISTS - THE IMPACT OF HELMET USAGE

Helmets are effective in decreasing maxillofacial trauma in motorcycle crashes. The impact, however, of motorcycle crashes on the location a nd patterns of craniofacial injuries among helmeted versus unhelmeted patients has not been examined. In the present study, 331 injured moto rcyclists were evaluated to compare the incidence of craniofacial and spinal injury in 77 (23%) helmeted and 254 (77%) nonhelmeted patients. Nonhelmeted motorcyclists were three times more likely to suffer faci al fractures (5.2% vs. 16.1%) than those wearing helmets (p < 0.01). S kull fracture occurred in only one helmeted patient (1.2%), compared w ith 36 (12.3%) of nonhelmeted patients (p less than or equal to 0.01). The incidence of spinal injury was not significantly different betwee n the two groups. Blood alcohol levels demonstrated that 12% of the he lmeted group were legally intoxicated (blood alcohol level > 100 mg/dL ), in contrast to 37.9% of the nonhelmeted motorcyclists (p less than or equal to 0.01). Failure to wear a helmet resulted in a significantl y higher incidence of craniofacial injury among patients involved in m otorcycle crashes, but did not. affect spinal injury or mortality. Alc ohol usage seemed to correlate with failure to use helmets. Helmet use should be legally mandated on a national level for ah motorcyclists.