Relationship between the use and types of helmets with facial injuries - a prospective study

Abstract

Introduction: many studies have demonstrated the benefits of helmet to prevent and reduce severity of injuries in motorcyclists. Objective: the aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible relationship between the use of different types of helmets and the occurrence of facial injuries among victims of motorcycle accidents, seen at Hospital da Restauração, Recife/PE, Brazil. Materials and methods: demographic and trauma data were collected from hospitalized motorcycle accident victims with facial injuries from December 2020 to July 2021. Pearsons chi-square test was used to assess association between two categorical variables using a margin of error of 5%. Results: among the participants, the average age was 33.46 years. The age group between 18 and 29 years was the most prevalent. Most participants were male. 60.0% of motorcyclists used helmets at the time of the accident and of this percentage 37.6% used fixed full-face helmet, 16.5% open-face helmet and the other 5.9% articulated full-face helmet. 62.7% of participants had facial fractures. Among the fractures, those of the zygomatic-orbital complex were the most common fracture and were significantly associated with the use of helmets, especially with open-face helmet. Conclusions: the use of helmets was associated with a lower number of facial fractures among patients who were victims of motorcycle accidents. Fracture of the zygomatic-orbital complex was related to the absence of a helmet at the time of the accident, as well as the use of open-face helmets.

The safety of motorcycle users

“…Although a motorcycle crash dummy has been specially designed, Hybrid III dummies are often used for testing. On the basis of tests with the use of dummies, it is checked what injuries occur in the limbs, head and spine [1,2,8]. The use of dummies and crash tests can increase safety.…”