Musculoskeletal System Injuries Due to Motorcycle Accidents In The City of Aksaray
Erkam Kömürcü1, Kasım Arık2, Umut Hatay Gölge3, Gürdal Nusran1, Tolga Kurt4
1Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universty School Of Medicine,department Of Orthopaedics And Traumatology
2Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universty School Of Medicine,department Of General Surgery
3Hakkari Yüksekova State Hospital,Depertment Of Orthopaedics And Traumatology
4Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universty School Of Medicine,department Of Cardiovasculer Surgery
Keywords: Motorcycle accident, musculoskeletal system injuries, mortality, permanent disability
Abstract
Purpose: An increase in motorcycle accidents and injuries have been observed in recent years due to the rising number of motorcyclists. The purpose of our study was to evaluate musculoskeletal system injuries due to motorcycle accidents.
Material and Method: The files of 189 patients who presented at the Aksaray State Hospital Emergency Service with injuries due to motorcycle accidents were investigated retrospectively. Age, gender as well as current trauma of the patients were recorded. Cases with musculoskeletal system injuries were evaluated according to site of injury and subsequent morbidity and mortality were presented.
Results: Of the 189 patients 168 were male (89.9%) and 21 were female (11.1%). Locomotor system injuries were present in 147 patients (77.8%). The number of patients presenting with multiple extremity injuries vs. isolated extremity injuries were 26 (17.69%) and 70 (47.62%)respectively. Soft tissue trauma was present in only 51 patients (34.69%). The distribution of fractures and dislocations was as follows: 74 (54.81%) lower extremity, 48 (35.56%) upper extremity, 9 (6.67%) pelvic and 4 (2.96%) vertebral injuries. In extremity injuries; femur (27.41%) and tibia (19.26) injuries were followed by hand and wrist (9.63%) injuries in frequency. 7 patients with multiple organ injurys had a mortal outcome while permanent disability occurred due to extremity function loss in 22 patients. Pulmonary embolism and osteomyelitis complications occured in 2 patients and 1 patient respectively. Injuries were reported most frequently in July between 2300 – 0300 and 0400- 0700. It was detected in the records that 48 (32.79%) of the patients with musculoskeletal injuries were drunk.
Conclusion: Musculoskeletal system injuries due to motorcycle accidents cause lifelong disabilities. To reduce the accidents, social awareness should be increased and training programs in motorcycle usage should be more effective and widespread.