In recent years, the increasing number of bicyclists has evoked the debate on use of bicycle helmet. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between helmet use and injury pattern in bicycle trauma patients. The authors performed a retrospective population-based study of 186 patients treated for bicycle-related injuries at a Level 1 Trauma Centre in Sweden during a 3-year period. Data were collected from case records. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs), and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Results showed that 43.5 % of the 186 patients used a bicycle helmet at the time of the crash. Helmet users were less likely to get head and facial injuries in collisions than non-helmet users (OR, 0.3; 95 % CI, 0.07–0.8, and OR, 0.07; 95 % CI, 0.02–0.3), whereas no difference was seen in single-vehicle accidents. The risk of limb injuries was higher among helmet users. The authors concluded that 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. (Author/publisher)
Abstract