Characterization of the seriously injured cyclist : An evaluation of the injury and treatment focus areas of 2817 patients

• Published in: Der Unfallchirurg Vol. 120; no. 5; pp. 403 - 408
• Main Authors: Helfen, T, Lefering, R, Moritz, M, Böcker, W, Grote, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Age Distribution; Arm Injuries - diagnosis; Arm Injuries - epidemiology; Arm Injuries - therapy; Bicycling - injuries; Bicycling - statistics & numerical data; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - diagnosis; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - epidemiology; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - therapy; Female; Germany - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Trauma - diagnosis; Multiple Trauma - epidemiology; Multiple Trauma - therapy; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Thoracic Injuries - diagnosis; Thoracic Injuries - epidemiology; Thoracic Injuries - therapy; Trauma Severity Indices; ISS; Trauma registry; TBI; Polytrauma; Bicyclists
• ISSN: 1433-044X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00113-016-0208-y

Transport statistics classify bicyclists in a separate road user collective. For medical reasons, this differentiation is applied as well. Much literature is published in this field. Nevertheless there is a lack of literature regarding the overall injury patterns in a defined injury severity collective. Most literature is about isolated injured regions in combination with a heterogeneous injury severity. Further parameters, such as injury patterns, epidemiological aspects, treatment focal points and characteristic outcomes, have also been studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and characterize injury patterns in a standardized and representative collective of severely injured bicyclists. Methods We analysed data from the Traumaregister DGU® from 2002 to 2010. In total, 2817 severely injured (ISS ≥ 9 and additional intensive/intermediate care unit) bicyclists were included. The primary endpoint was evaluation of injury patterns and injury focal points. In addition to that we analysed parameters like epidemiological aspects, circumstances of accident, treatment focal points and outcome. The mean age was 50.3 ± 20.9 years. Males accounted for 68.9 % (n = 1940). The mean ISS was 23.7 ± 12.6. The mean AIS regions were the head 71.9 % (n = 2025), the chest with 44.9 % (n = 1264) and the upper extremities 33.6 % (947). In 68.2 % of all cases an ISS ≥ 9 was achieved by a traumatic brain injury; 21.1 % of all cases were mono-injuries. A characteristic distribution of age and a characteristic prevalence of the accidents in relation to the weekday and the month could be shown. The present study analysed the largest ever published collective of severely injured bicyclists. Traumatic brain injury could clearly be shown as the main injury in this collective. Moreover, one of five cases achieved the state "severely injured" due to mono-injury.