RELATIONSHIP OF HELMET USE AND HEAD-INJURIES AMONG MOTORCYCLE CRASH VICTIMS IN EL-PASO COUNTY, COLORADO, 1989-1990

A case-control study was conducted in El Paso County, Colorado to esti mate differences in risk of head injury among persons in motorcycle cr ashes who were or were not wearing helmets. There were 71 cases, motor cyclists with head injuries from crashes, and 417 controls, motorcycli sts in crashes without head injuries. Motorcyclists not wearing helmet s were 2.4 times as likely to sustain head injuries (95% confidence li mits: 1.23, 4.70) than motorcyclists wearing helmets. This odds ratio was adjusted for age and crash characteristics, using logistic regress ion. Alcohol intoxication and severity of motorcycle damage were also associated with significantly elevated odds ratios related to sustaini ng a head injury.