Citation

Striker RH, Chapman AJ, Titus RA, Davis AT, Rodriguez CH. Am. J. Surg. 2015; 211(3): 529-533.

Affiliation

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.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.11.004

PMID

26774124

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BACKGROUND: Michigan repealed a 35-year mandatory helmet law in April 2012.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.

Language: en