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Frequency and severity of Cervical spine injuries in motorcycle riders with and without helmet use
Keywords:
Abbreviated Injury Scale, ASIA Impairment Scale , Cervical spine, Helmet, Motorcycle.Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of cervical spine injuries in motorcycle riders with and without helmet use.
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in Accident and Emergency Department, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar from 23rd January 2019 to 23rd December 2019. All patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The Abbreviated Injury Scale(AIS) was used for documenting the frequency and severity of cervical spine injuries in helmeted and unhelmeted motorcycle riders. The neurological status was evaluated with American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA) impairment scale.
Results: A total of 559 motorcycle riders were included in our study. Helmet users were 123(22%) and non-users were 436(77.9%). The mean age of helmeted group was 39±6SD and unhelmeted group was 28±11SD. The frequency of cervical spine injury was noted in 8(6.5%) patients wearing helmets and in 87(19.9%) patients not wearing helmets.( P value <0.05)The cervical spine injuries in helmeted were AIS1 in 6(75%) patients and AIS2 in 2(25%) patients. The types of cervical spine injuries in unhelmeted were AIS2 in 10(11.4),AIS3 in 70(80.4%) and AIS4 in 7( 8%) patients. No neurological impairment was noted in helmeted group while unhelmeted group had ASIA C in 7(8%) and ASIA D in 10(11.4%) patients on arrival to hospital.
Conclusion: The frequency and severity of cervical spine injuries in unhelmeted motorcycle riders were more than helmeted riders. Motorcyclists wearing helmets were not prone to increased risk of cervical spine injuries during collisions, rather wearing helmet had some protective advantage.
Key Words: Abbreviated Injury Scale, ASIA Impairment Scale , Cervical spine, Helmet, Motorcycle.
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