ACUTE INJURIES FROM MOUNTAIN BIKING

We questioned members of 2 southern California off-road bicycling orga nizations about injuries associated with the use of all-terrain bicycl es. Cyclists were asked about riding and safety habits, the kind(s) of injury sustained with their most recent accident and whether they sou ght medical treatment, and the circumstances of the accident. Of 459 m ailed surveys, 268 (58.4%) were returned. Respondents (82.8% of whom w ere male) ranged in age from 14 to 68 years. Of these, 225 (84%) had b een injured while riding all-terrain bicycles, 51% in the past year. A lthough most injuries were characterized as minor, 26% required profes sional medical care, and 4.4% of those injured were admitted to hospit al. Extremity injuries-abrasions, lacerations, contusions-occurred in 201 (90%) cyclists with 27 (12%) sustaining a fracture or dislocation. High levels of helmet use (88%) may explain the low occurrence of hea d and neck trauma (12%). Frequent riding and riding on paved terrain w ere associated with increased severity of injury, although most accide nts-197 (87.6%)-occurred off paved roads. These results suggest that, compared with regular bicyclists, all-terrain cyclists have more, but not necessarily more severe, injuries. Clinicians and emergency medica l personnel should be aware that the increasing popularity of off-road cycling may change the frequency and nature of bicycling injuries.