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A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
Injuries in 8927 patients admitted after motor-cycle crashes in Sweden 1987-1994 inclusive
Andreas Wladis1, Lennart Boström, Bo Nilsson
1Department of Surgery, Söder Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. awla@yahoo.com
Objective:
To discover morbidity and mortality rates after motor-cycle crashes on the national level in Sweden.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Teaching hospital, Sweden.
Interventions:
Extraction of data from International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes E819C (motor-cycle drivers) and E819D (motor-cycle passengers) recorded in the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register (SHDR) between 1987 and 1994.
Main Outcome Measures:
Injury distribution, medical consequences, mortality, survival, and incidence by age, sex and geographical area.
Results:
The number of people admitted to hospital after motor-cycle crashes decreased significantly during the period (from 1743 in 1987 to 1258 in 1994, p < 0.001). The most frequent injuries among drivers and passengers alike were fractures of the legs, arms, and vertebrae, followed by injuries to the head and brain. The in-hospital mortality was lower among drivers (n = 172, 2.2%) than among passengers (n = 31,3.3%).
Conclusion:
The incidence of injuries after motor-cyclist crashes decreased during the study period. The most common victims were young men with fractures and brain injuries. Those at most risk of dying were older passengers.
