Spek, Wouter R. van der (2024) Electric Cyclists at Risk for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background: The popularity of electric bicycles (E-bikes) in the Netherlands has surged recent years. Simultaneously, bicycle-related traffic injuries in the Netherlands have reached record levels. Given the significant societal and individual impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) we investigated the relation between E-bike usage and the occurrence of severe TBI. Methods: All bicycle traffic crash victims aged twelve years and older admitted to our hospital between 2018 and 2023, were included from the National Trauma Registry. Data on bicycle type, antithrombotics, alcohol intoxication, and helmet use, was obtained from the hospitals’ electronic patient record. The primary outcome variable was an intracranial hemorrhage or hemorrhagic cerebral contusion verified on CT- or MRI-imaging. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95%-confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariable binary logistic regression analyses, adjusting for the risk factors alcohol intoxication, use of antithrombotics, and not wearing a helmet. Results: Between 2018 and 2023 a total of 1878 patients were admitted following a bicycle traffic accident. This group consisted of 1359 (73.4%) regular cyclists and 519 (27.6%) E-bikers. Multivariable regression analyses resulted in a significant association between E-bike usage and intracranial hemorrhage or contusion (OR 1.55; CI 1.22-1.97) and skull fractures (OR 1.50; CI 1.08-2.08). Not wearing a helmet resulted in an OR of 3.31 (CI 1.03-10.66) for skull fractures. Conclusion: In our study population E-bike usage was found to be an independent predictor for severe traumatic brain injury after a traffic accident whilst riding a bicycle. Not wearing a helmet resulted in more than three times higher odds to sustain a skull fracture.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Sluis, Dr. F.J. (Fabian) van der |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jan 2025 12:21 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jan 2025 12:21 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3791 |
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