THE TYPICAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN ADOLESCENTS: THE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT - SOME EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SAFETY HELMETS AND CLOTHING

The daily confrontation with the growing number of motorcycle accidents has increased the number of severely injured adolescents and causes growing concern in all traumatological units. A prospective study of 124 patients between 1972 and 1974 tried to give an insight into several special questions concerning: type of motorcycle, circumstances of trauma, driving experience and the amount of personal protection including helmets and clothing. In this study special interest was paid to the amount and effectiveness of protective measures used by the drivers. Some facts are presented: the users of helmets sustained head injuries in 45% of cases compared with 60% among the unprotected riders. Severe injuries are diminished by the use of protective clothes from 52.9% to 28.1%. Compound fractures were seen in riders who did not use protective clothes 3 times more frequently than in protected riders. /TRRL/