[Injuries associated with motorcycle accidents]

Abstract

Objectives: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in motorcycle accidents in parallel with the increasing number of motorcyclists. Data on motorcycle accidents/injuries are relatively limited in Turkey. This study sought to determine the injury profile of patients involved in motorcycle accidents.

Methods: This retrospective study included 212 patients (204 males, 8 females; mean age 36+/-16 years; range 2 to 79 years) who were hospitalized for injuries caused by motorcycle accidents. Data on age and sex, injury patterns, length of hospitalization were recorded. Injuries were grouped according to localization.

Results: The frequencies of injuries in descending order were as follows: musculoskeletal system injuries (n=106, 50%), skull injuries (n=103, 48.6%), maxillofacial injuries (n=38, 17.9%), thoracic (n=15, 7.1%), vertebral (n=10, 4.7%), and abdominal (n=6, 2.8%) injuries. Multiple fractures in upper and lower extremities were seen in 17 (8%) and 43 (20.3%) patients, respectively. The most frequent extremity injuries were tibia-fibula fractures (17.9%) followed by shoulder injuries (11.3%). Both extremity and skull injuries were seen in 23 patients (10.9%). The mean hospital stay was 12.2+/-16.8 days (range 1 to 150 days). Eight patients required intensive care for a mean of seven days. As a complication, one patient (0.5%) with olecranon and tibial plateau fractures developed pulmonary embolism. Motorcycle accidents resulted in mortality in nine patients (4.3%).

Conclusion: Since motorcycle accidents are preventable or associated risks for injuries are reducible, risk factors for our country should be determined, necessary laws and restrictive regulations should be put into practice, and educational programs should be implemented.