The objective of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of bicycle helmets in preventing head injuries in children. The study was conducted between April 1991 and June 1992 at two main children's hospitals in Brisbane, Australia. The cases comprised 102 children who had sustained injury to the upper head or who had lost consciousness. The controls were 278 cyclists presenting with injuries other than to the head or face. A further 65 children with injuries to the face were considered as an extra comparison group. A self administered questionnaire was completed by each child and his or her carer. Information was recorded on factors leading to the accident, including bicycle malfunction, and the details about the surface onto which the child fell. The degree of bicycle damage was used as a proxy to assess severity of impact. The results indicate that head injuries were more likely to occur on paved surfaces than on grass, gravel or dirt. Wearing a helmet reduced the risk of head injury by 63%, and of loss of consciousness by 86%. This paper was discussed by P. Priest in British Medical Journal, Vol. 308 (1994), No. 6937, p. 1164-1165.
Abstract