Leeuwerke, S.J.G. (Steven) (2014) On-road versus off-road motorcycle accidents in Western Australia. thesis, Medicine.
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Abstract
Introduction Roughly 15,500 serious injuries and over 200 deaths occur on Australian roads annually following motorcycle accidents, which equals to approximately 26% of all serious road trauma. While the incidence of off-road motorcycle trauma is gradually increasing and up to 50% of all motorcycle accidents have been reported to occur off-road, preventive strategies have almost been solely aimed at on-road motorcyclists. Earlier literature suggests differences between both groups in terms of risk factors, injury severity, injury profiles and the use and effect of motorcycle clothing, but results remain inconclusive. Further, differences in health outcomes and return to work have not been investigated previously. Objective This study primarily aimed to compare on-road and off-road motorcyclists with respect to injury severity, injury profiles, the use and effect of motorcycle clothing and outcomes in terms of physical and emotional health, as well as return to work. Secondary objectives included a comparison of rider demographics and contributing factors to both the cause and severity of an accident. Methods A prospective cohort study was undertaken at a level 1 trauma centre of Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia, collecting data from interviews and medical records. All motorcycle accidents (two-wheeled and all-terrain vehicles) that were reviewed by trauma surgery during a 6 month period ending on the 5th of March 2014 were approached for inclusion. Results There were no significant differences between on-road (n=108, 60.0%) and off-road (n=72, 40.0%) motorcyclists in terms of injury severity, hospital length of stay and discharge location (home or rehabilitation facility). Injury profiles were similar between both groups, with the exception of soft tissue injuries, which occurred more frequently in on-road motorcyclists (on-road n=93, 89.4% versus off-road n=52, 74.3%; p=0.01). Only motorcycle clothing with body armour was found to be significantly protective against soft tissue injuries. A protective effect of gloves was not found. Although protective, the use of motorcycle clothing was low with only 6.5% of on-road and 15.3% of off-road motorcyclists wearing full equipment with body armour imbedded in all parts. Physical and emotional health outcomes three months after the accident were generally worse in on-road motorcyclists. Return to work was overall low with 46.7% of patients unable to return to partial or full-time employment three months after the accident. Return to work was not significantly different between both groups. Conclusion Off-road motorcyclists sustain equally severe injuries with mostly similar injury profiles and form a significant group of trauma. These findings emphasise the implications of off-road motorcycling trauma to patient and society and reinforce the need to take action to reduce trauma in this group of motorcyclists. Further research is needed to formulate ways to effectively implement new injury prevention strategies specifically targeted at off-road motorcyclists.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Reininga, Miss Inge H.F. PhD and Boer, Doctor Roeland H. den MD |
| Supervisor name: | Zellweger, Professor René MD and Sinnathamby, Doctor Manimaran MBBS and Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery of the Royal Pe and Western Australia |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:40 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:40 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/192 |
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