|
Abstract
|
Introduction Cycling is increasing in some cities. Bicycle injuries are often overlooked, partly because police crash data largely under-report them.
Method A road trauma registry in a French area (Rhne county, population=1.6 Million) includes both in- and out-patients, with injuries coded with the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Over 1996-2006, 14 437 people were recorded as injured (or killed) while cycling. Type of cyclists is approximately defined by crash location and age: in or out of town, or children (0-10 years old). A multivariate logistic regression is performed to quantify risk factors of injury severity.
Results Incidence peaks at 7-8 years old in females and at 12 in males; the sex-ratio (M/F) is 2.2 among injured children, 3.5 among in town injured cyclists and 5.7 among out of town. Most cyclists are injured on their own: 85% in children, 62% among in-town cyclists and 73% among out-of-town. Proportion of MAIS3+ is 4.6% in children, 7.3% among in-town and 10.6% among out-of-town. Adjusted risk factors for injury severity (Max.AIS3+) are as follows: being male, aged 45 or older, not wearing a helmet, crashing in a rural place, at night, on 90 km/h roads and colliding with a motorised vehicle. MAIS1 cyclists are mostly injured at the limbs (75% of them) and at the face (27%), MAIS2 cyclists at the upper limbs (58%) and head (22%), MAIS3 at the upper limbs (58%). Finally MAIS4+ cyclists (ie, with possibly fatal injuries) are mostly injured at the head (73%) and at the thorax (24%). |