Citation

Uhrenholt L, Boel LWT, Thomsen AH. Scand. J. Forensic Sci. 2017; 23(1): 3-6.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Danish Society for Forensic Medicine, Publisher Walter de Gruyter)

DOI

10.1515/sjfs-2017-0002

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Spinal injury following direct loading of the head and neck is a rare sequel of bicycle crashes. Fatal head injuries following bicycle crashes have been described in great detail and safety measures such as bicycle helmets have been developed accordingly. Less frequently, however, potentially severe cervical spine injuries have been described. We present the case of a middle-aged female who sustained an ultimately fatal cervical spine injury following a collision with a car whilst biking wearing a helmet. We discuss the literature regarding the protective effects of bicycle helmets, the relevance to cervical spine injury and legislation on mandatory use of helmets for injury prevention.

Language: en

Keywords

bicycle helmet; cervical spine injury; fatal bicycle trauma; medicolegal autopsy; post-mortem computed tomography; road traffic crash