Full-face motorcycle helmets to reduce injury and death: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

Publication Type Review
Authors Urréchaga E, Kodadek L, Bugaev N, Bauman Z, Shah K, Abdel Aziz H, Beckman M, Reynolds J, Soe-Lin H, Crandall M, Rattan R
Journal Am J Surg
Volume 224
Issue 5
Pagination 1238-1246
Date Published 07/07/2022
ISSN 1879-1883
Keywords Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Craniocerebral Trauma, Practice Management, Skull Fractures
Abstract BACKGROUND: While motorcycle helmets reduce mortality and morbidity, no guidelines specify which is safest. We sought to determine if full-face helmets reduce injury and death. METHODS: We searched for studies without exclusion based on: age, language, date, or randomization. Case reports, professional riders, and studies without original data were excluded. Pooled results were reported as OR (95% CI). Risk of bias and certainty was assessed. (PROSPERO #CRD42021226929). RESULTS: Of 4431 studies identified, 3074 were duplicates, leaving 1357 that were screened. Eighty-one full texts were assessed for eligibility, with 37 studies (n = 37,233) eventually included. Full-face helmets reduced traumatic brain injury (OR 0.40 [0.23-0.70]); injury severity for the head and neck (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] mean difference -0.64 [-1.10 to -0.18]) and face (AIS mean difference -0.49 [-0.71 to -0.27]); and facial fracture (OR 0.26 [0.15-0.46]). CONCLUSION: Full-face motorcycle helmets are conditionally recommended to reduce traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, and injury severity.
DOI 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.06.018
PubMed ID 35821175
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