Repeal of the Michigan helmet law: early clinical impacts

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 207; no. 3; pp. 352 - 356
• Main Authors: Chapman, Alistair J., M.D, Titus, Rachel, M.D, Ferenchick, Hannah, M.D, Davis, Alan, Ph.D, Rodriguez, Carlos, M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2014; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - mortality; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Fatalities; Female; Head Protective Devices - statistics & numerical data; Helmet; Helmets; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Mandatory helmet law; Michigan; Middle Aged; Mortality; Motorcycle; Motorcycles; Motorcycles - legislation & jurisprudence; Repeal; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Traffic accidents & safety; Trauma Centers - economics; Trauma Centers - statistics & numerical data; Wounds and Injuries - economics; Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology; Wounds and Injuries - mortality; Wounds and Injuries - therapy; Michigan; Motorcycle; Repeal; Helmet; Mandatory helmet law; Mortality; Michigan
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.12.001

Abstract Background Michigan repealed a 35-year mandatory helmet law on April 13, 2012. We examined the early clinical impacts at a level 1 trauma center in West Michigan. Methods Retrospective cohort study comparing outcomes among motorcycle crash victims in a 7-month period before and after the helmet law repeal. Results One hundred ninety-two patients were included. After the repeal, nonhelmeted motorcyclists rose from 7% to 29% ( P < .01). There was no difference in mortality rate after admission; however, crash scene fatalities increased significantly. Intensive care unit length of stay, mechanical ventilation time, and cost of stay were also higher in the nonhelmeted cohort ( P < .05). Conclusions Our study highlights the negative ramifications of repealing a mandatory helmet law. Motorcyclists not wearing helmets increased significantly in a short period of time. Nonhelmeted motorcyclists more frequently died on the scene, spent more time in the intensive care unit, required longer ventilator support, and had higher medical costs.