Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents
Background: The use of helmets has been promoted worldwide to protect motorcyclists from head-and-neck injuries and to reduce motorcycle accident-related mortality. However, the results of previous studies regarding the effectiveness of different types of helmets are controversial. This study aims t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Formosan Journal of Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.e-fjs.org/article.asp?issn=1682-606X;year=2021;volume=54;issue=6;spage=205;epage=212;aulast=Hsu |
| _version_ | 1797704865709817856 |
|---|---|
| author | Shiun-Yuan Hsu Ching-Hua Tsai Chun-Ying Huang Ting-Min Hsieh Sheng-En Chou Wei-Ti Su Ching-Hua Hsieh |
| author_facet | Shiun-Yuan Hsu Ching-Hua Tsai Chun-Ying Huang Ting-Min Hsieh Sheng-En Chou Wei-Ti Su Ching-Hua Hsieh |
| author_sort | Shiun-Yuan Hsu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The use of helmets has been promoted worldwide to protect motorcyclists from head-and-neck injuries and to reduce motorcycle accident-related mortality. However, the results of previous studies regarding the effectiveness of different types of helmets are controversial. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of three types of helmets: half-helmets, open-face helmets, and full-face helmets, in protecting motorcyclists during traffic accidents.
Materials and Methods: A total of 6991 motorcyclists, who were hospitalized between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups: those who did not wear helmets (n = 506) and those who wore helmets (n = 6,485). The latter group was subdivided according to the type of helmet used: half-helmet (n = 3,027), open-face helmet (n = 2,528), and full-face helmet (n = 930). The primary outcome was inhospital mortality. The length of hospital stay and associated head-and-neck injuries were secondary outcomes.
Results: Half-helmets offered significantly less protection than full-face helmets, considering that patients using half-helmets had a significantly higher rate of the Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥ 2 injuries to the head region and significantly higher odds of sustaining subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and intracerebral hematoma than patients using full-face helmets. However, higher odds of sustaining SAH were noted in patients using open-face helmets. There were no significant differences in the Glasgow Coma Scale score after injury or in the mortality rate in patients using either half-helmets or open-face helmets compared to those using full-face helmets.
Conclusion: This study revealed that half-helmets, but not open-face helmets, offered significantly less protection from head injuries than full-face helmets. However, the mortality rate and length of hospital stay after the injury did not differ among patients using the three types of helmets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:27:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8676b4357c104655a9f7aa1c21178000 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1682-606X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:27:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Formosan Journal of Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-8676b4357c104655a9f7aa1c211780002023-09-03T07:13:27ZengWolters Kluwer Health/LWWFormosan Journal of Surgery1682-606X2021-01-0154620521210.4103/fjs.fjs_38_21Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidentsShiun-Yuan HsuChing-Hua TsaiChun-Ying HuangTing-Min HsiehSheng-En ChouWei-Ti SuChing-Hua HsiehBackground: The use of helmets has been promoted worldwide to protect motorcyclists from head-and-neck injuries and to reduce motorcycle accident-related mortality. However, the results of previous studies regarding the effectiveness of different types of helmets are controversial. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of three types of helmets: half-helmets, open-face helmets, and full-face helmets, in protecting motorcyclists during traffic accidents. Materials and Methods: A total of 6991 motorcyclists, who were hospitalized between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups: those who did not wear helmets (n = 506) and those who wore helmets (n = 6,485). The latter group was subdivided according to the type of helmet used: half-helmet (n = 3,027), open-face helmet (n = 2,528), and full-face helmet (n = 930). The primary outcome was inhospital mortality. The length of hospital stay and associated head-and-neck injuries were secondary outcomes. Results: Half-helmets offered significantly less protection than full-face helmets, considering that patients using half-helmets had a significantly higher rate of the Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥ 2 injuries to the head region and significantly higher odds of sustaining subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and intracerebral hematoma than patients using full-face helmets. However, higher odds of sustaining SAH were noted in patients using open-face helmets. There were no significant differences in the Glasgow Coma Scale score after injury or in the mortality rate in patients using either half-helmets or open-face helmets compared to those using full-face helmets. Conclusion: This study revealed that half-helmets, but not open-face helmets, offered significantly less protection from head injuries than full-face helmets. However, the mortality rate and length of hospital stay after the injury did not differ among patients using the three types of helmets.http://www.e-fjs.org/article.asp?issn=1682-606X;year=2021;volume=54;issue=6;spage=205;epage=212;aulast=Hsuabbreviated injury scaleglasgow coma scalehead injuryhelmetsinjury severity scoremortality |
| spellingShingle | Shiun-Yuan Hsu Ching-Hua Tsai Chun-Ying Huang Ting-Min Hsieh Sheng-En Chou Wei-Ti Su Ching-Hua Hsieh Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents Formosan Journal of Surgery abbreviated injury scale glasgow coma scale head injury helmets injury severity score mortality |
| title | Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents |
| title_full | Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents |
| title_fullStr | Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents |
| title_short | Association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents |
| title_sort | association between types of helmet and outcomes in motorcyclists after traffic accidents |
| topic | abbreviated injury scale glasgow coma scale head injury helmets injury severity score mortality |
| url | http://www.e-fjs.org/article.asp?issn=1682-606X;year=2021;volume=54;issue=6;spage=205;epage=212;aulast=Hsu |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shiunyuanhsu associationbetweentypesofhelmetandoutcomesinmotorcyclistsaftertrafficaccidents AT chinghuatsai associationbetweentypesofhelmetandoutcomesinmotorcyclistsaftertrafficaccidents AT chunyinghuang associationbetweentypesofhelmetandoutcomesinmotorcyclistsaftertrafficaccidents AT tingminhsieh associationbetweentypesofhelmetandoutcomesinmotorcyclistsaftertrafficaccidents AT shengenchou associationbetweentypesofhelmetandoutcomesinmotorcyclistsaftertrafficaccidents AT weitisu associationbetweentypesofhelmetandoutcomesinmotorcyclistsaftertrafficaccidents AT chinghuahsieh associationbetweentypesofhelmetandoutcomesinmotorcyclistsaftertrafficaccidents |