head injury mechanisms in helmet-protected motorcyclists.pdfVIP

The Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care Head Injury Mechanisms in Helmet-Protected Motorcyclists: Prospective Multicenter Study Martinus Richter, MD, Dietmar Otte, MSc, Uwe Lehmann, MD, Bryan Chinn, PhD, Erich Schuller, DSc, David Doyle, MD, Kate Sturrock, BS, and Christian Krettek, MD, FRACS Background: In a prospective study, G, n 55) were included. Collision oppo- bone were mainly DFE lesions, whereas three research groups at Hannover (H) nents were cars (57.8%), trucks (8.0%), brain lesions were mostly IFE lesions. and Munich (M) in Germany and Glas- pedestrians (2.3%), bicycles (1.4%), two- Conclusion: A modification of the de- gow (G) in the United Kingdom collected wheel motor vehicles (0.8%), and others sign of the helmet shell may have a preven- data from motorcycle crashes between (4.2%). In 25.4% no other moving object tative effect on DFE lesions, which are July 1996 and July 1998 to investigate was involved. The mean impact speed was caused by a high amount of direct force head injury mechanisms in helmet-pro- 55 km/h (range, 0–120 km/h) and corre- transfer. Acceleration or deceleration forces tected motorcyclists. lated with AISHead. Seventy-six (33%) mo- induce IFE lesions, particularly rotation, Methods: The head lesions of motor- torcyclists had no head injury, 21% (n which is an important and underestimated cyclists with Abbreviated Injury Score- 48) AISHead 1, and 46% (n 103) AISHead factor. The reduction of the effecting forces Head (AISHead) 2 injuries and/or helmet 2 . Four hundred nine head lesions were and the kinetic consequences should be a impact were classified into direct force ef- further classifie