Published in:
01-04-2009
Young Adults and Riding Position: Factors that Affect Mortality Among Inpatient Adult Motorcycle Casualties: A Major Trauma Center Experience
Published in: World Journal of Surgery | Issue 4/2009
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Background
In Singapore, road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the second most common cause of deaths in trauma. Motorcycle casualties account for 54% of all fatalities. Studies have shown that the mean age of motorcycle casualties is significantly younger than that of other RTA victims.
Methods
We reviewed the mortality of all motorcycle casualties ≥16 years admitted to an acute hospital as emergencies from January 2004 to December 2006. To determine the impact of age on mortality, we divided our patients into two groups, one ≤21 years (younger group) and another >21 years (older group). A subset analysis based on riding position (driver versus passenger) was performed to determine the inpatient mortality rate in these two groups.
Results
There were 96 (14%) patients in the younger group and 586 (86%) patients in the older group. The mortality rate for younger motorcycle casualties was significantly higher (14.6% versus 8%; p = 0.04). Also, there were significantly more passengers in the younger group (25% versus 8.4%; p = 0.0001). The mortality rate among young passengers was significantly higher than that among young drivers (29.2% versus 9.7%; p = 0.019). Likewise, the mortality rate of the young passengers was also significantly higher than that among older passengers (29.2% versus 10.2%; p = 0.04).
Conclusions
Young motorcycle casualties have a significantly higher mortality rate than older motorcycle casualties. Young passengers have the highest mortality rate and contribute significantly to the death rate among young motorcycle casualties.