INJURIES INVOLVING OFF-ROAD CYCLING

BACKGROUND. Data on injuries due to off-road bicycling are scarce, but do indicate that injuries in this sport are frequent, We examined the pattern of injuries to off-road riders as part of a larger study of b icycle injuries and helmet use. METHODS. We undertook a prospective st udy of bicycle-related injuries identified at seven emergency departme nts in Seattle, Washington, between March 1992 and August 1994. Hospit alized patients and medical examiners' cases were included. Detailed q uestionnaires and abstraction of all medical records provided informat ion on crash and rider characteristics and injury type and severity. R ESULTS. A total of 3390 injured riders participated, representing an 8 8% response rate. Of all injured cyclists, 127 (3.7%) were injured rid ing ''off road.'' Seventy-three percent of off-road cyclists were 20 t o 39 years of age, and 86.6% were male. Helmet use was 80.3% for off-r oad cyclists as compared with 49.5% for other cyclists. The number of head and face injuries for the off-road cyclists was only 40% of the n umber incurred by other cyclists. Four percent of off-road cyclists ha d severe injuries (Injury Severity Score >8), and 6.3% were hospitaliz ed, compared with 6.8% and 9.4%, respectively, of other cyclists. CONC LUSIONS. The majority of off-road bicycling injuries are minor. Off-ro ad cyclists are less likely to have head and face injuries than other cyclists and are more likely to wear helmets.