Head injuries in motor-cyclists the importance of the crash helmet

Abstract

In a series of over one hundred fatal accidents to motorcyclists 92% suffered from head injury and approximately 66% had multiple injuries of a major character. When non-lethal head injury is combined with other major but non-lethal injuries death may readily occur from cerebral fat embolism and other causes. Alleviation of the head injury by means of a suitable crash helmet may be expected to save life in some cases of this type. The most effective method of preventing head injuries in motor-cyclists is careful driving. In addition the use of a crash helmet is advocated. Seven accidents to motor-cyclists wearing crash helmets are reported. In all of them the head injury was mild, though in four there had been considerable damage to the crash helmet. The incidence of fractures of the lower limb is greater in motor-cycle accidents than in other types of accident, and the number requiring prolonged treatment may be expected to increase when fatalities are averted by the use of a suitable crash helmet. I am deeply indebted to Dr. H. Holbourn, D.Phil., for his help during the preparation of this paper, to the various people and organizations mentioned in the text, to the medical officers of a military hospital for head injuries under whose care most of these cases were, and to the Medical Research Council, who provided a grant in aid of the clinical note-taking. I wish also to thank Lieut.-Col. J. A. A. Pickard, D.S.O., for enabling me to study the records of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. © 1941, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.