Helmet use in bicycle trauma patients: a population-based study

Abstract

Non-helmet use is associated with an increased risk of injury to head and face in collisions, whereas helmet use is associated with an increased risk of limb injuries in all types of crashes.

Inequalities in the use of helmets by race and payer status among pediatric cyclists

“…6,8,10,[16][17][18] In a national study of trauma patients, we have demonstrated that the majority of children presenting to a trauma center after a bicycle accident are not wearing helmets and that helmet use is associated with reduced severity of head injury when these accidents occur. As well, we have shown that there are a number of discrete factors that are associated with the likelihood of helmet use.…”

Helmet Usage Reduces Serious Head Injury Without Decreasing Concussion After Bicycle Riders Crash

“…Regardless, the helmeted riders had an incidence of concussion reported at 65%, which was much higher than in our series. Other studies have shown a reduction in head injuries 6,9,10 though most of these studies do not differentiate between minor and major head injuries. Some studies have shown no difference in head injury 5,6 when concussion was included as a head injury, although in the former study, 5 the helmeted patients were less likely to have a skull fracture although more likely to have a concussion.…”

“…The role helmet usage plays in reducing injuries after bicycle riders crash is clear from many published series. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The injuries seen, the reduction of severity of different areas injured, and the severity of injuries encountered is less clear. The most common injury in our patients was a concussion, and helmets usage in our patients did not prevent concussion.…”

Helmets Decrease Risk of Bicyclist-Related Maxillofacial Injuries But Not Severity

“…Our findings are similar to those from previous studies that reported a decreased risk of facial injuries with helmet use. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19]22 The most recent meta-analysis in 2018 by Fitzpatrick et al 15 reported an odds reduction of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.75; P < .0001) for facial injuries among helmeted riders. Our study sample consisted of more helmeted than nonhelmeted riders compared with other study samples, which had included fewer helmeted riders.…”

“…Various studies have reported a preventative effect of helmet use to the lower face, a few studies have found no preventative effects, and still other studies have reported an increased risk of injury to the lower facial third with helmet use. 4,11,13,[15][16][17][18][19] Unlike American football, hockey, or lacrosse helmets, the standard bicycle helmet design does not include a face mask designed to protect the maxillofacial region. 5,19 As such, we hypothesized that the frequency of maxillofacial injuries for bicyclists who wear helmets would equal the frequency of maxillofacial injuries for the nonhelmet-wearing bicyclists.…”