Repeal of the Michigan helmet law: the evolving clinical impact

American Journal of Surgery
Rebecca H StrikerCarlos Rodriguez

Abstract

Michigan repealed a 35-year mandatory helmet law in April 2012. We examined the impact of this legislation on a level 1 trauma center. A retrospective cohort study comparing the 7-month period before and the 3 motorcycle seasons after the helmet law repeal. A total of 345 patients were included in the study. Nonhelmeted riders increased from 7% to 28% after the repeal. Nonhelmeted crash scene fatalities were higher after the repeal (14% vs 68%). The nonhelmeted cohort had significantly higher in-patient mortality (10% vs 3%), injury severity score (19 vs 14.5) and abbreviated injury scale head (2.2 vs 1.3). Non-helmeted riders also had increased alcohol use, intensive care unit length of stay and need for mechanical ventilation. The median hospital cost for the non-helmeted cohort was higher (P < .05). The impact of the Michigan helmet law repeal continues to evolve. Three years after this legislative change, we are now observing increased injury severity score, higher in-patient mortality, and worse neurologic injury.

References

Oct 1, 1990·The Journal of Trauma·N E McSwain, A Belles
Mar 20, 2002·The Journal of Trauma·Gillian A HotzJoseph Selem
Aug 22, 2006·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Jeffrey H CobenTed R Miller
Nov 13, 2007·The Journal of Trauma·Terence O'KeeffeMark M McKenney
Mar 4, 2014·American Journal of Surgery·Alistair J ChapmanCarlos Rodriguez

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Citations

Nov 9, 2016·American Journal of Surgery·Zachary HothemRandy Janczyk
Nov 18, 2016·American Journal of Public Health·Patrick M CarterC Raymond Bingham
May 26, 2017·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·Nicholas S AdamsJohn A Girotto
Oct 1, 2019·Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open·Leslie M KobayashiJay Doucet
Jan 24, 2021·The American Journal of Emergency Medicine·Brendon Sen Crowe, Adel Elkbuli
Jun 8, 2021·Journal of Safety Research·Sivana BarronDamien W Carter

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