Cheryl Mejia, DO, MS; Dan Miulli, DO; Teckah Lawrence, MEd Larkin Hospital and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
www.PosterPresentations.com
In a vast # of countries outside the US, many people utilize
motorcycles (MTC) for transportation. MTC are a cost-effective
means of transportation.
In 2010, 4,502 people were killed nationally in accidents involving
motorcycles. That was in increase from 2009 (4,469). Given that
MTC fatalities make up an increasing proportion of total traffic
fatalities, our attention turns to methods that might reduce MTC
fatalities. One method of reducing MTC fatalities is through helmet
use. One study found that helmets reduce the risk of head injury
by around 69% and death by around 42%
The relative risk of injury for MTCists is 8x that of passenger-car
occupants, per vehicle mile. With regard to death, MTC are 35x
more likely to die in an MVC than are those in a car. On a per-trip
basis, MTC are 58x more likely to be killed than passenger-vehicle
occupants (Weiss 2010).
Reducing head injury & subsequent death can be reduced using
proper MTC helmets. A meta-analysis of 61 observational studies
concluded that MTC helmets reduce injury by 69% & death by 42%.
Age Sex Helmet GCS
32 M Y 15
59 M Y 15
36 F Y 15
21 M Y 15
23 M Y 15
42 M Y 15
25 F Y 15
45 M Y 15
45 M Y 15
18 M Y 15
32 M Y 15
51 M Y 15
22 F Y 15
58 F Y 15
32 M Y 15
40 M Y 15
24 M ? 15
35 F Y 15
15 M Y 14
26 M Y 14
27 M Y 15
61 M Y 15
29 M Y 13-15
Study Design
We conducted a 5-year retrospective review of existing evidence using the data base available through ARMC medical records. We requested
data from 04/01/07-04/01-12 for patients coded with motor vehicle accidents that resulted in concussion with brief LOC to prolonged loss of
consciousness.
The report identified 203 patients; the patient’s charts were then reviewed and only patients that were in an accident while operating a MTC
were included in the study. After review of all charts, this elicited 22 patients, which will become our study group (n=22).
Patient Sample
77.3% of patients were male, with 22.7% female. The minimum age in the study group is 15, max age 61, with a mean age of 34.23.
We collected from the patients’ medical records: age, sex, whether they were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and GCS score at
the time of head trauma as shown in the table below.
17 of 22 patients were male. The other 5 were female. The 3 who had less than GCS 15 at some time during their hospital visit were all male.
Age range of patients appropriate for this study were 15-61 years old. The average age was 25.86 yo.
As the above table shows 21 patients (95.4%) confirmed wearing a helmet during the time of the accident, one patient’s helmet use was
unknown. All patients had a GCS score in the normal range, with 21 patients scoring 15 and one patient scoring 13-15, still within normal range.
The one patient scoring 13-15 was reported wearing his helmet.
Discussion
There were several challenges in finding appropriate retrospective subjects for this study on traumatic brain injury & its association with helmet
use in the context of motorcycle riding. Hundreds of patient MVA encounters were searched manually in order to determine motorcycle vs.
automobile accident. A number of the MTC accidents were lumped with also bicycle accidents. Some of the MTC accidents were lumped with
MVC/MVAs.
Additionally, manual searches were required in order to learn of helmet use or not. Neither of these entries were available by electronic search.
24 of 25 MTC accident patients were documented to have been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. There was one subject in whom
helmet use was questionable. The records show neither use nor disuse of head protection.
There is not enough info in the above study to determine whether or not helmet use is on the rise. We do not have info about helmet use in
people who did not go to the ED for treatment. We also do not have data regarding helmet use in those who expired, or who went to other
treating facilities. Alternate hospitals for those in San Bernardino county could have been utilized due to insurance coverage of the patients.
There may be a socioeconomic effect wrt MTC riding, helmet use, speed of vehicle, involvement of alcohol or drugs, and GCS outcome.
This study indicates that helmet use in MTC injured patients is correlated with favorable GCS. However, a control group was not able to be
obtained, secondary to nearly all motorcycle trauma records indicating helmet use.
A further challenge would be to determine age and condition of helmet used. Helmets are to be retired after a # of years secondary to natural
breakdown of materials. Additionally, they ar also supposed to be discarded and not used again if there is a sig. impact in its history.
Other studies also show good outcomes in those with helmet use. Other research was done on related, yet significantly different material
studied. Only about 50 studies were returned in a combination of PubMed searches for English, helmet, head injury, clinical trial, RCT, humans,
and stoke.
In the future, a # of studies could be conducted to learn further
about the effect of MTC helmet use in preventing head trauma. In
the day and age of EMR, there should be an entry that
differentiates motorcycle accidents from ATVs, automobiles, and
bicycles. There should also be an easily-filtered entry that calls
attention to cases that involve helmets, or specifically do not have
such protective headgear.
As mentioned earlier, the efficacy of helmet is affected by age and
use. Future studies could possibly involve these details.
Other study ideas that could be generalized to a greater
population include ones that involve bicycles as well as ATVs.
Perhaps assessing helmet use of all kinds for many different
sporting/commuting purposes would be better suited to making
broader statements supportive of safety promotion. This might
include team contact sports such as rugby, football, as well as other
outdoor activities such as rock climbing and rollerblading.
Armstrong, et al. “The American football uniform: Uncompensable
heat stress and hyperthermic exhaustion.” Journal of Athletic
Training. 45(2): 117-127, 2010.
Blake, et al. “evaluating and in-school injury prevention
programme’s effect on children’s helmet wearing habits.” Brain
Injury. 22(6): 501-7, June 2008.
Campbell et al. “All terrain vehicle riding among youth: how do
they fair.” J Pediatric Surgery. 45 (5): 925-9, May 2010.
Cushman, et al. “Physicians promoting bicycle helmets for
children: a randomized trial.” American Journal of Public Health.
81(8): 1044-1046, Aug 1991.
Germeni, et al. “evaluating the impact of a school-based helmet
promotion program on eligible adolescent drivers: different
audiences, different needs?” Health Education Research. 25(5):
865-876, July 2010.
Grisell and Place. “Face tissue pressure in prone positioning.”
Spine. 33(26): 2938-2941, 2008.
McIntosh, et al. “Does padded headgear prevent head injury in
Rugby Untion Football?” Medicine and Science in sports and
Exercise. 41(2): 306-319, 2009.
Murphy et al. “The burden of motorcycle-related neuro-trauma in
Ireland and associated helmet usage.” British Journal
Neurosurgery. 23(2): 162-4, April 2009.
Oginni et al. “A prospective multimeter study of injury profile,
severity and risk factors in 221 motorcycle-injured Nigerian maxilla
facial patients.” Traffic Injury Prevention. 10(1): 70-5, March
2009.
Soundappan et al. “Off-road vehicle trauma in children.” Pediatric
Emergency Care. 26(12): 909-913, Dec 2010.
Swartz et al. “Emergency face-mask removal effectiveness: a
comparison of traditional and nontraditional football helmet face-
mask attachment systems.” Journal of Athletic Training. 45(6):
560-569, 2010.
Weiss et al. “Youth motorcycle-related brain injury by state helmet
law type: United States, 2005-2007.” Pediatrics (126): 1149,
2010.
This research would not have been possible without the
tremendous help and support of co-authors Dan Miulli and Teckah
Lawrence. Additionally, this poster presentation was made possible
by the support of my PM&R program director Jose Diaz, DO. The
medical center librarians assisted me greatly with medical journal
searches and abstract/article acquisitions.
For more information, contact cmejia01@larkinhospital.com
The purpose of our study is to evaluate whether wearing a helmet
during a MTC accident that results in head trauma, lowers the risk
of severe brain injury (GCS <=8).
Glasgow Coma Scale
The GCS is a simple way that physicians communicate the severity
and depth of coma in a patient who has suffered traumatic brain
injury (TBI). Mental alertness varies from fully alert to lethargic
and stuporous all the way to deep coma, where a patient is
minimally responsive or unresponsive to external stimuli. The GCS
grades this level of consciousness (LOC) on a scale from 3 (worst,
deep coma) to 15 (normal, alert). The GCS is the cumulative score
of 3 areas of examination. Eye, Verbal, and Motor function are all
tested by the clinician and the findings dictate the GCS.
Cheryl Mejia, DO, MS; Dan Miulli, DO; Teckah Lawrence, MEd
Larkin Hospital and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Head Trauma in Motorcycle Accidents
A T E A C H I N G H O S P I T A L