title: Motor vehicle accidents and injuries in patients with idiopathic blepharospasm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blepharospasm can cause transient functional blindness that may cause catastrophic traffic accidents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients in southern Taiwan with idiopathic blepharospasm were enrolled. The incidence of and injuries from traffic accidents from the onset of blepharospasm symptoms to the first injection of botulinum toxin were analyzed. Data were collected from medical records and face-to-face interviews with patients and their families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients (39.4%) had traffic accidents (21 motorcycle; 5 car). There were 5 incapacitating motorcycle injuries: 1 cervical spine injury with quadriparesis, 1 blunt abdominal injury with internal bleeding, 2 broken limbs, and 1 ligament rupture; 1 incapacitating car injury: broken limb of other person; and 11 non-incapacitating motorcycle injuries (abrasions, bruises, and minor lacerations). Nine patients were uninjured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blepharospasm caused incapacitating injuries for motorcyclists themselves and another person in a car accident. Patients with untreated blepharospasm should avoid riding motorcycles and driving cars.
authors: Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: wjhwang@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors: Wen-Juh
authors: WJ
authors: Hwang
authors: Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Fang
authors: CF
authors: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
keywords: Blepharospasm; Botulinum toxin; Car accidents; Focal dystonia; Functional blindness; Motorcycle accidents