Analysis of Accident Mechanisms in Unhelmeted Motorcycle Accident Victims.
- Author:
Sang Chul KIM
1
;
Jae Wan LEE
;
Duk Hwan KO
;
Kwang Je BAEK
;
Ho Sung JUNG
;
Sang O PARK
;
Dae Young HONG
;
Kyeong Ryong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. 20050694@kuh.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Motorcycles;
Injuries;
Injury Severity Score
- MeSH:
Accidents, Traffic;
Adolescent;
Ambulances;
Glasgow Coma Scale;
Head;
Humans;
Incidence;
Injury Severity Score;
Interviews as Topic;
Lower Extremity;
Male;
Medical Records;
Motorcycles;
Retrospective Studies;
Upper Extremity
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2013;24(1):70-76
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Due to their vulnerability and relatively high driving speed, motorcycles have been associated with a high risk of sustaining multiple severe injuries after traffic accidents. We sought to investigate sustained injuries and the association of accident mechanisms with injury severity for unhelmeted motorcycle accident victims. METHODS: This study was conducted as an observational retrospective study. Unhelmeted motorcycle accident victims who visited the study hospital from January 2010 to December 2011 were included. Data were obtained from medical records, ambulance run-sheets, and telephone interviews. Accident mechanisms were divided into collision with an obstacle, single vehicle accident, collision with another vehicle, collision by another vehicle, and falling accident from the viewpoint of energy. Glasgow coma scale (GCS), Revised trauma score (RTS), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were analyzed for comparison of injury severity according to the accident mechanisms. RESULTS: Of 404 patients who visited the study hospital, 165 patients were included; 87.3%(144/165) were male, and 78.8%(130/165) were drivers. The incidence of motor cycle accident showed the highest in the teenager and in time during 18:00~24:00 o'clock. Lower extremity was the most common site of injury, followed by upper extremity, head, and face etc. Injury due to falling was the most severe injury mechanism, followed by collision with another vehicle, collision by another vehicle, and a single vehicle and an obstacle (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Lower extremity injury was the most common injury site in unhelmeted motorcycle accidents, and motorcycle accidents by fall and collision with another vehicle should be considered as a severe mechanism of injury.
