title: Helmet use and associated spinal fractures in motorcycle crash victims.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of helmet use on the incidence of cervical and thoracic fractures sustained in motorcycle crashes remains controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the incidence of these fractures in helmeted and nonhelmeted crash victims at a single Level I trauma hospital with a well-defined system for evaluating spinal fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 422 motorcycle crash victims treated during 3 years, 190 had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 75 sustained some form of spinal fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the statistical analysis, there was no relationship between helmet use and cervical or thoracic fractures, after controlling for speed of crash. The protective effect of helmet use in TBI was verified. These findings re-emphasize the need for a well-defined radiologic protocol for spinal injury at centers that evaluate crash victims.
authors.affiliation: Level I Trauma, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Goslar
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harrington
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*