Central liver hematomas caused by mountain-bike crashes.
BACKGROUND
Mountain biking, one of the most popular sports in recent years with more than 10 million riders, is implicated more and more in severe bike accidents with complicated injuries. In addition to head injuries, which are common and account for most of the fatalities, we have observed an increase in liver trauma over the years.


METHODS
Approximately 19000 bike associated accidents were reported in 1998 in Austria. A total of 52 patients were admitted to our trauma ward between 1995 and 1997 with mountain-bike associated injuries. Of the 52, eight presented with subcapsular hematoma of the liver sustained by falling while riding. In all patients, nonoperative management was successful. These injuries were associated with a special form of bar-ends used on the mountain-bikes. After a broad response from the industry, facilitated by many articles in newspapers, life-style magazines, radio and television stations, this type of bar end has nearly vanished from the market.


RESULTS
As a result, in 1998, only one case of liver injury was observed, and from 1999 to August 2000, no such injuries have been reported thus far.
Nehoda
H
H
Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. hermann.nehoda@uibk.ac.at
Hochleitner
B W
BW
Hourmont
K
K
Weiss
H
H
Lanthaler
M
M
Tschmelitsch
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed