PURPOSE: This study was undertaken in order to identify the influence of wearing a head protective device (helmet) on facial fracture patterns in injured motorcycle riders. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent facial bone computed tomography (CT) resulting from motorcycle riding injuries between May 2009 and July 2011. Data collected included age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), status of helmet use, alcohol intake, time of accident, seating position of the rider, traumatic head injury (THI) measure and facial fracture patterns. Facial fracture patterns were grouped as fracture of the upper-face (orbits), mid-face (maxilla, zygoma, nose) and lower-face (mandible). We assessed the association between facial fracture patterns and helmet use. RESULTS: Of the 180 patients included in this study, 163 (90.6%) were male, 60 (33.3%) suffered facial fracture, 85 (47.2%) wore a helmet and 30 (16.7%) suffered THI. Their mean age was 28.7+/-14.6 years. Between the helmeted and unhelmeted groups, there was statistically significant difference in age, GCS, RTS and THI. There was no significant association between wearing a helmet and type of facial fracture. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age was the only factor influencing helmet use. CONCLUSION: Wearing a helmet prevented traumatic head injury but did not prevent any particular type of facial fractures in the injured motorcycle riders assessed in this study.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Facial Bones ; Facial Injuries ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Head Protective Devices ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medical Records ; Motorcycles ; Retrospective Studies ; Zygoma

Sirenomelia, characterised by a complete or incomplete fusion of the lower extremities, is a severe form of caudal defect affecting 1 in 60,000 births. Most cases of sirenomelia die within 5days after birth and are associated with abnormalities such as renal agenesis, urinary tract agenesis, single umbilical artery, etc. Thirdtrimester ultrasonographic diagnosis is usually impaired by severe oligohydramnios whereas the amount of amniotic fluid may be efficient to allow diagnosis in the late first trimester. We report of a case of sirenomelia at 14 weeks of gestation using prenatal transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasonography.
Amniotic Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Ectromelia* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Oligohydramnios ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Single Umbilical Artery ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract