Repeal of the Michigan helmet law: early clinical impacts.
Am J Surg
; 207(3): 352-6; discussion 355-6, 2014 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24581760
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Michigan repealed a 35-year mandatory helmet law on April 13, 2012.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.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Temas:
ECOS
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Aspectos_gerais
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ferimentos e Lesões
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Motocicletas
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Acidentes de Trânsito
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Dispositivos de Proteção da Cabeça
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
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Incidence_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Surg
Ano de publicação:
2014
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos