title: Motorcycle crash-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations for traumatic brain injury in North Carolina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine statewide emergency department (ED) visit data for motorcycle crash morbidity and healthcare utilization due to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and non-TBIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  North Carolina ED data (2010-2012) and hospital discharge data (2009-2011).
  
  
  METHODS
  Statewide ED visits and hospitalizations due to injuries from traffic-related motorcycle crashes stratified by TBI status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics include age, sex, mode of transport, disposition, expected source of payment, hospital length of stay, and hospital charges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the study period, there were 18 780 ED visits and 3737 hospitalizations due to motorcycle crashes. Twelve percent of ED visits for motorcycle crashes and 26% of hospitalizations for motorcycle crashes had a diagnosis of TBI. Motorcycle crash-related hospitalizations with a TBI diagnosis had median hospital charges that were nearly $9000 greater than hospitalizations without a TBI diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to motorcycle crashes with a TBI diagnosis consumed more healthcare resources than motorcycle crash-related ED visits and hospitalizations without a TBI diagnosis. Increased awareness of motorcyclists by other road users and increased use of motorcycle helmets are 2 strategies to mitigate the incidence and severity of motorcycle crash injuries, including TBIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Ms Harmon, Ms Naumann, and Dr Marshall); Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, North Carolina Division of Public Health, Raleigh, North Carolina (Mr Proescholdbell); Department of Emergency Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Dr Waller).
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Scott K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Proescholdbell
authors.forename: Rebecca B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Waller
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult