scholarly journals Do American Youth Football Players Intentionally Use Their Heads for High-Magnitude Impacts?

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (14) ◽  
pp. 3498-3504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclyn Alois ◽  
Srinidhi Bellamkonda ◽  
Eamon T. Campolettano ◽  
Ryan A. Gellner ◽  
Amaris Genemaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head Injuries ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Impact Mechanism ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
High Magnitude ◽  
The Impact

Background: Concern for head injuries is widespread and has been reported by the media to be the number one cause of decreased participation in football among the American youth population. Identifying player mechanisms associated with intentional, or purposeful, head impacts should provide critical data for rule modifications, educational programs, and equipment design. Purpose: To investigate the frequency of intentional and unintentional head impacts and to examine the player mechanisms associated with intentional high-magnitude head impacts by comparing the impact mechanism distributions among session type, player position, and ball possession. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Head impact sensors and video footage of 68 players were used to analyze and classify 1319 high-magnitude impacts recorded over 1 season of youth football. Results: In total, 80% of the high-magnitude head impacts were classified as being caused by intentional use of the head. Head-to-head impact was the primary impact mechanism (n = 868; 82.7%) within the 1050 intentional high-magnitude impacts, with classifiable mechanisms, followed by head-to-body (n = 139; 13.2%), head-to-ground (n = 34; 3.2%), and head-to-equipment (n = 9; 0.9%). Head-to-head impacts also accounted for a greater proportion of impacts during practices (n = 625; 88.9%) than games, for linemen (n = 585; 90.3%) than perimeters and backs, and for ball carriers (n = 72; 79.1%) than tacklers. Conclusion: Overall, the majority of high-magnitude head impacts were intentional and resulted from head-to-head contact. The proportion of head-to-head contact was significantly higher for practices than games, linemen than backs and perimeter players, and ball carriers than tacklers.

scholarly journals Game-Related Impacts in High School Boys’ Lacrosse

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596711983558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane V. Caswell ◽  
Patricia Kelshaw ◽  
Andrew E. Lincoln ◽  
Lisa Hepburn ◽  
Reginald Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Rotational Velocity ◽  
Linear Acceleration ◽  
The United States ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
Direct Head ◽  
The Impact

Background: The rate of concussions in boys’ lacrosse is reported to be the third highest among high school sports in the United States, but no studies have described game-related impacts among boys’ lacrosse players. Purpose: To characterize verified game-related impacts, both overall and those directly to the head, in boys’ varsity high school lacrosse. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 77 male participants (mean age, 16.6 ± 1.2 years; mean height, 1.77 ± 0.05 m; mean weight, 73.4 ± 12.2 kg) were instrumented with sensors and were videotaped during 39 games. All verified game-related impacts ≥20 g were summarized in terms of frequency, peak linear acceleration (PLA), and peak rotational velocity (PRV). Descriptive statistics and impact rates per player-game (PG) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated. Results: Overall, 1100 verified game-related impacts were recorded (PLA: median, 33.5 g [interquartile range (IQR), 25.7-51.2]; PRV: median, 1135.5 deg/s [IQR, 790.0-1613.8]) during 795 PGs. The rate for all verified game-related impacts was 1.38 impacts per PG (95% CI, 1.30-1.47). Of these, 680 (61.8%) impacts (PLA: median, 35.9 g [IQR, 26.7-55.5]; PRV: 1170.5 deg/s [IQR, 803.2-1672.8]) were directly to the head (impact rate, 0.86 impacts/PG [95% CI, 0.79-0.92]). Overall, midfielders (n = 514; 46.7%) sustained the most impacts, followed by attackers (n = 332; 30.2%), defenders (n = 233; 21.2%), and goalies (n = 21; 1.9%). The most common mechanisms for overall impacts and direct head impacts were contact with player (overall: n = 706 [64.2%]; head: n = 397 [58.4%]) and stick (overall: n = 303 [27.5%]; head: n = 239 [35.1%]), followed by ground (overall: n = 73 [6.6%]; head: n = 26 [3.8%]) and ball (overall: n = 15 [1.4%]; head: n = 15 [2.2%]). Direct head impacts were associated with a helmet-to-helmet collision 31.2% of the time, and they were frequently (53.7%) sustained by the players delivering the impact. Nearly half (48.8%) of players delivering contact used their helmets to initiate contact that resulted in a helmet-to-helmet impact. Players receiving a head impact from player contact were most often unprepared (75.9%) for the collision. Conclusion: The helmet is commonly used to initiate contact in boys’ high school lacrosse, often targeting defenseless opponents. Interventions to reduce head impacts should address rules and coaching messages to discourage intentional use of the helmet and encourage protection of defenseless opponents.

scholarly journals High-magnitude head impact exposure in youth football

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 604-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eamon T. Campolettano ◽  
Ryan A. Gellner ◽  
Steven Rowson
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
High Magnitude ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
The Impact

OBJECTIVEEven in the absence of a clinically diagnosed concussion, research suggests that neurocognitive changes may develop in football players as a result of frequent head impacts that occur during football games and practices. The objectives of this study were to determine the specific situations in which high-magnitude impacts (accelerations exceeding 40g) occur in youth football games and practices and to assess how representative practice activities are of games with regard to high-magnitude head impact exposure.METHODSA total of 45 players (mean age 10.7 ± 1.1 years) on 2 youth teams (Juniors [mean age 9.9 ± 0.6 years; mean body mass 38.9 ± 9.9 kg] and Seniors [mean age 11.9 ± 0.6 years; mean body mass 51.4 ± 11.8 kg]) wore helmets instrumented with accelerometer arrays to record head impact accelerations for all practices and games. Video recordings from practices and games were used to verify all high-magnitude head impacts, identify specific impact characteristics, and determine the amount of time spent in each activity.RESULTSA total of 7590 impacts were recorded, of which 571 resulted in high-magnitude head impact accelerations exceeding 40g (8%). Impacts were characterized based on the position played by the team member who received the impact, the part of the field where the impact occurred, whether the impact occurred during a game or practice play, and the cause of the impact. High-magnitude impacts occurred most frequently in the open field in both games (59.4%) and practices (67.5%). “Back” position players experienced a greater proportion of high-magnitude head impacts than players at other positions. The 2 teams in this study structured their practice sessions similarly with respect to time spent in each drill, but impact rates differed for each drill between the teams.CONCLUSIONSHigh-magnitude head impact exposure in games and practice drills was quantified and used as the basis for comparison of exposure in the 2 settings. In this cohort, game impact rates exceeded those for practice. Back players, who were often positioned in the open field, were shown to experience elevated levels of head impact exposure relative to players at other positions. The analysis also suggests that practice intensity, which may be influenced by coaching style, may also affect high-magnitude head impact exposure. Future studies should investigate this aspect as a factor affecting head impact exposure.

Differences in Head Impact Exposures Between Youth Tackle and Flag Football Games and Practices: Potential Implications for Prevention Strategies

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110117
Author(s):  
Kelly Sarmiento ◽  
Dana Waltzman ◽  
Owen Devine ◽  
Xinjian Zhang ◽  
Lara DePadilla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Population ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
High Magnitude ◽  
Average Impact ◽  
Tackle Football ◽  
Impact Data ◽  
Age Range

Background: Interventions designed to reduce the risk for head impacts and concussion in youth football have increased over the past decade; however, understanding of the role of regular game play on head impact exposure among youth tackle and flag football athletes is currently limited. Purpose: To explore head impact exposure among youth tackle and flag football athletes (age range, 6-14 years) during both practices and games. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Using the Vector MouthGuard sensor, the authors collected head impact data from 524 tackle and flag youth football athletes over the course of a football season. Quantities of interest were estimated from regression models using Bayesian methods. Results: For impacts ≥10 g, a tackle football athlete had an estimated 17.55 (95% CI, 10.78-28.96) times more head impacts per practice compared with a flag football athlete (6.85 [95% CI, 6.05-7.76] and 0.39 [95% CI, 0.24-0.62] head impacts, respectively). Additionally, a tackle football athlete had an estimated 19.48 (95% CI, 12.74-29.98) times more head impacts per game compared with a flag football athlete (13.59 [95% CI, 11.97-15.41] and 0.70 [95% CI, 0.46-1.05] head impacts, respectively). Among tackle football athletes, the estimated average impact rate was 6.51 (95% CI, 5.75-7.37) head impacts during a practice and 12.97 (95% CI, 11.36-14.73) impacts during a game, resulting in 2.00 (95% CI, 1.74-2.29) times more ≥10 g head impacts in games versus practices. Tackle football athletes had 2.06 (95% CI, 1.80-2.34) times more high-magnitude head impacts (≥40 g) during a game than during a practice. On average, flag football athletes experienced an estimated 0.37 (95% CI, 0.20-0.60) head impacts during a practice and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.53-1.06) impacts during a game, resulting in 2.06 (95% CI, 1.29-3.58) times more ≥10 g head impacts in games versus practices. Because of model instability caused by a large number of zero impacts for flag football athletes, a comparison of high-magnitude head impacts is not reported for practices or games. Conclusion: This study provides a characterization of the head impact exposure of practices and games among a large population of youth tackle and flag football athletes aged 6 to 14 years. These findings suggest that a greater focus on game-based interventions, such as fair play interventions and strict officiating, may be beneficial to reduce head impact exposures for youth football athletes.

scholarly journals Differences in the Mechanism of Head Impacts Measured Between Men’s and Women’s Intercollegiate Lacrosse Athletes

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 232596711880767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel K. Le ◽  
Tabitha D. Saunders ◽  
Katherine M. Breedlove ◽  
Debbie A. Bradney ◽  
Jill M. Lucas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Ncaa Division Iii ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Division Iii ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Impact Mechanism ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
The Impact

Background: Lacrosse is a rapidly growing sport in the United States. Comparing the magnitude and frequency of head impact mechanisms between sexes will provide data for injury prevention techniques and risk reduction of head injuries. Purpose: To compare sex-specific differences in the magnitude and frequency of head impact mechanisms in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III intercollegiate lacrosse athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 31 NCAA Division III intercollegiate lacrosse athletes (16 men [mean age, 21 ± 1 years; mean height, 179.70 ± 5.82 cm; mean weight, 80.71 ± 6.33 kg] and 15 women [mean age, 20 ± 1 years; mean height, 165.43 ± 5.25 cm; mean weight, 64.08 ± 7.59 kg]) voluntarily participated in this study. Participants wore xPatch sensors at every event during the 2015 spring season. Sensors recorded the magnitude, frequency, and location of head impacts over 10 g. Linear ( g) and rotational (deg/s2) acceleration determined impact magnitudes. We calculated incidence rates (IRs; per 1000 athlete-exposures [AEs]) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs to determine frequency differences. Film footage from each event was synchronized with the time of each head impact for verification and mechanism coding. Sex and impact mechanism served as the independent variables. Results: A significant interaction was found between impact mechanism and sex ( P < .001) and main effects for impact mechanism ( P < .001) and sex ( P < .001). The most common mechanism in men’s lacrosse was head to body (IR, 970.55/1000 AEs [95% CI, 266.14-331.98]), and in women’s lacrosse, stick to head (IR, 289.87/1000 AEs [95% CI, 124.32-184.55]) was most common. Only 9 of 419 impermissible head impacts in men’s lacrosse games were classed as penalties (2%); 7 of 25 impermissible head impacts in women’s lacrosse games were called as penalties (28%). Conclusion: The impact mechanisms of head to body in men’s lacrosse and stick to head in women’s lacrosse are penalties but occur frequently, suggesting that a focus on stressing rule enforcement is warranted. Because mechanism and sex affect the magnitude of head impacts, proper offensive and defensive techniques against opponents should be encouraged to reduce head impacts.

Head Impact Biomechanics in Youth Flag Football: A Prospective Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110266
Author(s):  
Landon B. Lempke ◽  
Rachel S. Johnson ◽  
Rachel K. Le ◽  
Melissa N. Anderson ◽  
Julianne D. Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Acceleration ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Rotational Acceleration ◽  
Event Type ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Head Impact Biomechanics ◽  
Impact Biomechanics

Background: Youth flag football participation has rapidly grown and is a potentially safer alternative to tackle football. However, limited research has quantitatively assessed youth flag football head impact biomechanics. Purpose: To describe head impact biomechanics outcomes in youth flag football and explore factors associated with head impact magnitudes. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We monitored 52 player-seasons among 48 male flag football players (mean ± SD; age, 9.4 ± 1.1 years; height, 138.6 ± 9.5 cm; mass, 34.7 ± 9.2 kg) across 3 seasons using head impact sensors during practices and games. Sensors recorded head impact frequencies, peak linear ( g) and rotational (rad/s2) acceleration, and estimated impact location. Impact rates (IRs) were calculated as 1 impact per 10 player-exposures; IR ratios (IRRs) were used to compare season, event type, and age group IRs; and 95% CIs were calculated for IRs and IRRs. Weekly and seasonal cumulative head impact frequencies and magnitudes were calculated. Mixed-model regression models examined the association between player characteristics, event type, and seasons and peak linear and rotational accelerations. Results: A total of 429 head impacts from 604 exposures occurred across the study period (IR, 7.10; 95% CI, 4.81-10.50). Weekly and seasonal cumulative median head impact frequencies were 1.00 (range, 0-2.63) and 7.50 (range, 0-21.00), respectively. The most frequent estimated head impact locations were the skull base (n = 96; 22.4%), top of the head (n = 74; 17.2%), and back of the head (n = 66; 15.4%). The combined event type IRs differed among the 3 seasons (IRR range, 1.45-2.68). Games produced greater IRs (IRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.01-1.53) and peak linear acceleration (mean difference, 5.69 g; P = .008) than did practices. Older players demonstrated greater combined event–type IRs (IRR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.12-1.90) and increased head impact magnitudes than did younger players, with every 1-year age increase associated with a 3.78 g and 602.81-rad/s2 increase in peak linear and rotational acceleration magnitude, respectively ( P≤ .005). Conclusion: Head IRs and magnitudes varied across seasons, thus highlighting multiple season and cohort data are valuable when providing estimates. Head IRs were relatively low across seasons, while linear and rotational acceleration magnitudes were relatively high.

scholarly journals Injury prevention in football: Knowledge and behaviour of players and availability of medical care in a Nigerian youth football league

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
OBA Owoeye ◽  
SRA Akinbo ◽  
OA Olawale ◽  
BA Tella ◽  
NM Ibeabuchi
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male Youth ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
The Impact

Background. Exposure to competitive football is increasing among male youth football players in Nigeria. However, medical support to abate the impact of injuries appears inadequate and there is limited literature to show whether youth football players are knowledgeable about, and practise effective measures for injury prevention in football (IPF).Objective. To assess the knowledge and behaviour of male youth football players regarding IPF and the availability of medical care for players.Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among all registered first-division players of a male youth football league in Lagos, Nigeria. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we assessed players’ knowledge regarding IPF, awareness of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11+ injury-prevention programme, injury-prevention behaviour and availability of medical attendants during training and competitive matches.Results. The mean age of the players was 18.5 years (standard deviation (SD) ±1.7; range 12 - 19). Their overall mean knowledge score regarding IPF was 4.40 (SD ±1.92) from a total score of 9, with the majority falling into the poor (39.1%) and fair (43.9%) knowledge categories. Most (79.3%) players were not aware of the FIFA 11+ programme. Less than half (40.5%) wore shin guards during training sessions, while 52.5% reported wearing shin guards during matches. Less than two-thirds always warmed up or cooled down at training or matches. About three-quarters (73.1%) and over half (52.1%) reported not having medical attendants working with their teams during matches and training, respectively.Conclusion. There is a clear deficiency in the knowledge and behaviour of injury-prevention measures among Nigerian male youth football players, and adequate medical care is lacking. There is a need for injury-prevention advocacy and implementation of effective interventions to bridge the identified deficiencies in youth football in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Head Impact Exposures Among Youth Tackle and Flag American Football Athletes

2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812199232
Author(s):  
Dana Waltzman ◽  
Kelly Sarmiento ◽  
Owen Devine ◽  
Xinjian Zhang ◽  
Lara DePadilla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
American Football ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
High Magnitude ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
Observational Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Tackle Football

Background: Promoted as a safer alternative to tackle football, there has been an increase in flag football participation in recent years. However, examinations of head impact exposure in flag football as compared with tackle football are currently limited. Hypothesis: Tackle football athletes will have a greater number and magnitude of head impacts compared with flag football athletes. Study Design: Cohort study. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: Using mouthguard sensors, this observational, prospective cohort study captured data on the number and magnitude of head impacts among 524 male tackle and flag football athletes (6-14 years old) over the course of a single football season. Estimates of interest based on regression models used Bayesian methods to estimate differences between tackle and flag athletes. Results: There were 186,239 head impacts recorded during the study. Tackle football athletes were 14.67 (95% CI 9.75-21.95) times more likely to sustain a head impact during an athletic exposure (game or practice) compared with flag football athletes. Magnitude of impact for the 50th and 95th percentile was 18.15 g (17.95-18.34) and 52.55 g (51.06-54.09) for a tackle football athlete and 16.84 g (15.57-18.21) and 33.51 g (28.23-39.08) for a flag football athlete, respectively. A tackle football athlete sustained 23.00 (13.59-39.55) times more high-magnitude impacts (≥40 g) per athletic exposure compared with a flag football athlete. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that youth athletes who play tackle football are more likely to experience a greater number of head impacts and are at a markedly increased risk for high-magnitude impacts compared with flag football athletes. Clinical Relevance: These results suggest that flag football has fewer head impact exposures, which potentially minimizes concussion risk, making it a safer alternative for 6- to 14-year-old youth football athletes.

scholarly journals Drill-specific head impact exposure in youth football practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 536-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eamon T. Campolettano ◽  
Steven Rowson ◽  
Stefan M. Duma
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Head Impact ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Head Impacts ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
Impact Rate ◽  
High Magnitude ◽  
Specific Activities

OBJECTIVE Although 70% of football players in the United States are youth players (6–14 years old), most research on head impacts in football has focused on high school, collegiate, or professional populations. The objective of this study was to identify the specific activities associated with high-magnitude (acceleration > 40g) head impacts in youth football practices. METHODS A total of 34 players (mean age 9.9 ± 0.6 years) on 2 youth teams were equipped with helmet-mounted accelerometer arrays that recorded head accelerations associated with impacts in practices and games. Videos of practices and games were used to verify all head impacts and identify specific drills associated with each head impact. RESULTS A total of 6813 impacts were recorded, of which 408 had accelerations exceeding 40g (6.0%). For each type of practice drill, impact rates were computed that accounted for the length of time that teams spent on each drill. The tackling drill King of the Circle had the highest impact rate (95% CI 25.6–68.3 impacts/hr). Impact rates for tackling drills (those conducted without a blocker [95% CI 14.7–21.9 impacts/hr] and those with a blocker [95% CI 10.5–23.1 impacts/hr]) did not differ from game impact rates (95% CI 14.2–21.6 impacts/hr). Tackling drills were observed to have a greater proportion (between 40% and 50%) of impacts exceeding 60g than games (25%). The teams in this study participated in tackling or blocking drills for only 22% of their overall practice times, but these drills were responsible for 86% of all practice impacts exceeding 40g. CONCLUSIONS In youth football, high-magnitude impacts occur more often in practices than games, and some practice drills are associated with higher impact rates and accelerations than others. To mitigate high-magnitude head impact exposure in youth football, practices should be modified to decrease the time spent in drills with high impact rates, potentially eliminating a drill such as King of the Circle altogether.

scholarly journals Injury prevention in football: Knowledge and behaviour of players and availability of medical care in a Nigerian youth football league

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
OBA Owoeye ◽  
SRA Akinbo ◽  
OA Olawale ◽  
BA Tella ◽  
NM Ibeabuchi
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male Youth ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
The Impact

Background. Exposure to competitive football is increasing among male youth football players in Nigeria. However, medical support to abate the impact of injuries appears inadequate and there is limited literature to show whether youth football players are knowledgeable about, and practise effective measures for injury prevention in football (IPF).Objective. To assess the knowledge and behaviour of male youth football players regarding IPF and the availability of medical care for players.Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among all registered first-division players of a male youth football league in Lagos, Nigeria. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we assessed players’ knowledge regarding IPF, awareness of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11+ injury-prevention programme, injury-prevention behaviour and availability of medical attendants during training and competitive matches.Results. The mean age of the players was 18.5 years (standard deviation (SD) ±1.7; range 12 - 19). Their overall mean knowledge score regarding IPF was 4.40 (SD ±1.92) from a total score of 9, with the majority falling into the poor (39.1%) and fair (43.9%) knowledge categories. Most (79.3%) players were not aware of the FIFA 11+ programme. Less than half (40.5%) wore shin guards during training sessions, while 52.5% reported wearing shin guards during matches. Less than two-thirds always warmed up or cooled down at training or matches. About three-quarters (73.1%) and over half (52.1%) reported not having medical attendants working with their teams during matches and training, respectively.Conclusion. There is a clear deficiency in the knowledge and behaviour of injury-prevention measures among Nigerian male youth football players, and adequate medical care is lacking. There is a need for injury-prevention advocacy and implementation of effective interventions to bridge the identified deficiencies in youth football in Nigeria.

scholarly journals The impact of helmet use on oral and maxillofacial injuries associated with electric-powered bikes or powered scooter: a retrospective cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yafit Hamzani ◽  
Dror Bar Hai ◽  
Nir Cohen ◽  
Michael J. Drescher ◽  
Gavriel Chaushu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Head Injury ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Soft Tissue Injuries ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Maxillofacial Injuries ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Helmet Use ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Electric bikes (E-bikes) and powered scooters (P-scooters) have become increasingly popular modes of public transportation, but they have been associated with injuries of all kinds, including dental trauma. Helmet use is promoted as a means of reducing injuries in accidents involving motorized and unmotorized vehicles. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of helmet use on the number and severity of oral and maxillofacial injuries caused by E-bikes and P-scooters. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used. The cohort included all patients referred to the emergency department of a tertiary medical center in 2014–2020 with oral and maxillofacial injuries involving E-bikes or P-scooters. Data were collected from the medical files on demographics, types of injuries, circumstances of occurrence, work-up, treatment, and outcome. Use of a helmet was recorded in each case. Results Of the total 1417 patients referred to the emergency department for E-bike and P-scooter-related trauma, 62 had oral and maxillofacial injuries, including 57 riders and 5 pedestrians. All had hard- or soft-tissue injuries; 20 (32.2%) had head injuries and 22 (35.5%) had dentoalveolar injuries. Eleven riders had worn a helmet at the time of injury (17.7%). Helmet use was associated with time of injury (weekday/weekend, daytime/night-time), type of motorized vehicle (E-bike or P-scooter), head injury, and number of bone fractures. Head injuries occurred more often on the weekend (57.9%) than during the week (20.9%) and were more likely to occur in riders who were not protected by a helmet (37.3% vs 18.2%). Patients who used helmets also had a lower rate of fractured bones (18.2%) and dentoalveolar injuries (23.7%) than patients who did not (68.8 and 37.3%, respectively). Interestingly, helmet use had no protective effect on soft-tissue injuries. Conclusions Helmet use by E-bike and P-scooter riders decreased the probability of head injury and of hard tissue and dentoalveolar injuries. These results may provide guidance for effective legislation and regulation of helmet use and improved treatment protocols for general and dental physicians.

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