[Bicycle injuries. Hospital based registration of injuries during 1985-89]

We analyze the results of 4 1/2 years of prospective registration of accidents to cyclists. 252 injured were treated at our hospital some as in-patients, some as out-patients. About 30% of all traffic injuries relate to cyclists. The true amount of these injuries is more than ten times the figure in the Norwegian official statistics. Most injuries occur in childhood and early adolescence, because these groups cycle most. Head injuries, wounds and fractures dominate. Two out of three of the injured are males. Accidents involving motor vehicles are more serious than other types of accidents and constitute about 17% of all injuries to cyclists. A lot of helmets have been sold, but no reduction in head injuries has been observed. The classical spoke injuries continue.