Crash characteristics and patterns of injury among hospitalized motorcyclists: Retrospective emergency study

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics of motorcycle accidents and victims hospitalized in Brazilian a large hospital and reference in trauma. Methods: A documentary research study was developed with a sample of 343 motorcycle accident victims hospitalized at the Hospital of Restoration in the year 2014. Data was collected in patients' medical records. Demographic variables were analyzed; related to the circumstances of the accident, clinics and treatment. The Epi Info 7 program was used, through descriptive statistics for analysis. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to analyze proportions. In cases where the assumptions of the chi-square test were not satisfied Fisher's exact test was applied. All conclusions were drawn considering the level of significance of 5%. Results: The largest number was male (87.5%), in the age group of 20 to 29 years (34.7%), unmarried (86.7%). The highest frequency of accidents was in on Sunday (25.1%) and at night (32.1%). The most affected body region was the head (43.9%). The mean length of hospital stay was 15.9 ± 23.8 (1-161) days. The main outcome was hospital discharge (88.5%). The proportion comparison test was significant in all variables analyzed (p-value <0.001). 51 (14.8%) of the victims suffered some kind of side effect. Conclusion: The profile of the victims was 20 to 29 years old, male, with the head being the most affected body area. The profile of hospitalizations due to motorcycle accidents in a trauma hospital, brings relevant information on the characteristics of victims and accidents, which may provide subsidies for injury prevention strategies.