Motorcycle helmets and spinal injuries: dispelling the myth.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between spinal injuries and helmet use in motorcycle trauma.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Twenty-eight hospitals in four midwestern states--Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin--representing urban, suburban, and rural settings.


METHODS
Consecutive sample of motorcyclists treated at the participating centers.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
The major variables evaluated were helmet use, ethanol use, and significant head or spinal injuries.


RESULTS
1,153 cases were analyzed. Helmet use was not significantly associated with spinal injuries (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence intervals, 0.79, 1.58) whereas head injury was markedly decreased with helmet use (odds ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence intervals, 0.23, 0.53). Ethanol use was a significant variable in both head (odds ratio, 3.89) and spinal (odds ratio, 2.41) injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to a significant protective relationship identified for head injuries, helmet use was not associated with an increased or decreased occurrence rate of spinal injuries in motorcycle trauma.
Orsay
E M
EM
University of Illinois, Chicago.
Muelleman
R L
RL
Peterson
T D
TD
Jurisic
D H
DH
Kosasih
J B
JB
Levy
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000517:prevention & control; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009049:Motorcycles; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000209:etiology*