Rebecca H Striker1, Alistair J Chapman2, Rachel A Titus2, Alan T Davis3, Carlos H Rodriguez4. 1. Department of Surgery, Michigan State University and Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners, 221 Michigan Street 200A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA. Electronic address: becky.striker@grmep.com. 2. Department of Surgery, Michigan State University and Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners, 221 Michigan Street 200A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA. 3. Department of General Surgery, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners Research Department, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. 4. Department of Surgery, Michigan State University and Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners, 221 Michigan Street 200A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Department of General Surgery, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; Department of Trauma Surgery, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Michigan repealed a 35-year mandatory helmet law in April 2012. We examined the impact of this legislation on a level 1 trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study comparing the 7-month period before and the 3 motorcycle seasons after the helmet law repeal. RESULTS: A total of 345 patients were included in the study. Nonhelmeted riders increased from 7% to 28% after the repeal. Nonhelmeted crash scene fatalities were higher after the repeal (14% vs 68%). The nonhelmeted cohort had significantly higher in-patient mortality (10% vs 3%), injury severity score (19 vs 14.5) and abbreviated injury scale head (2.2 vs 1.3). Non-helmeted riders also had increased alcohol use, intensive care unit length of stay and need for mechanical ventilation. The median hospital cost for the non-helmeted cohort was higher (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The impact of the Michigan helmet law repeal continues to evolve. Three years after this legislative change, we are now observing increased injury severity score, higher in-patient mortality, and worse neurologic injury.
BACKGROUND: Michigan repealed a 35-year mandatory helmet law in April 2012. We examined the impact of this legislation on a level 1 trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study comparing the 7-month period before and the 3 motorcycle seasons after the helmet law repeal. RESULTS: A total of 345 patients were included in the study. Nonhelmeted riders increased from 7% to 28% after the repeal. Nonhelmeted crash scene fatalities were higher after the repeal (14% vs 68%). The nonhelmeted cohort had significantly higher in-patient mortality (10% vs 3%), injury severity score (19 vs 14.5) and abbreviated injury scale head (2.2 vs 1.3). Non-helmeted riders also had increased alcohol use, intensive care unit length of stay and need for mechanical ventilation. The median hospital cost for the non-helmeted cohort was higher (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The impact of the Michigan helmet law repeal continues to evolve. Three years after this legislative change, we are now observing increased injury severity score, higher in-patient mortality, and worse neurologic injury.
Authors: Patrick M Carter; Lisa Buckley; Carol A C Flannagan; Jessica B Cicchino; Mark Hemmila; Patrick J Bowman; Farideh Almani; C Raymond Bingham Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2016-11-17 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Leslie M Kobayashi; Elliot Williams; Carlos V Brown; Brent J Emigh; Vishal Bansal; Jayraan Badiee; Kyle D Checchi; Edward M Castillo; Jay Doucet Journal: Trauma Surg Acute Care Open Date: 2019-08-29