title: Profile of trauma victims of motorcycle accidents treated at hospital São Paulo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate retrospectively, through analysis of medical records, the epidemiological aspects of patients traumatized by motorcycle accidents treated at the orthopedics ward, Hospital São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a retrospective observational study. The analysis of patients' medical records comprised the period from January 2008 to December 2009. The data checked were: age, gender, type of collision, type and location of fracture, treatment performed (conservative or surgical), type of surgery, cost of synthesis material and hospitalization, period of hospitalization and postoperative complications. After data collection, statistical analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 381 victims involved in motorcycle accidents. Patients were predominantly male (85%), with a mean age of 30.7 years old. Referring to distribution and site of lesions, 75.5% of individuals had lower limb fractures and in 95.4% of the cases, the treatment of choice was surgery. Twenty-nine patients were rehospitalized due to postoperative complications, such as exposure and failure of synthesis material, wound infection, necrosis, osteomyelitis, and pseudoarthrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was possible to identify useful characteristics for planning preventative strategies to reduce the rate of motorcycle accidents and redirect public investment in health. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Study.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (DOT - UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (DOT - UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza Cabrera
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Martimbianco
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (DOT - UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia Tomomi
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Hira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (DOT - UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele Landim
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Lahoz
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (DOT - UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hélio Jorge Alvachian
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (DOT - UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Baldy
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
keywords: Accidents, traffic; Epidemiologic studies; Public health