Participation rate in helmet performance study among cyclists presenting to a trauma centre in Australia
Since the mid-1990s, no further in-depth research has been conducted in order to investigate Australian helmet performance and assess the test standards applied. The objective of this study is to examine the general profile of head and neck injuries seen in presenting pedal- and motor-cyclists at a Level 1 trauma centre in Sydney.
The great majority of the riders were male (96%), and the relative risk of male riders sustaining head injury was greater than one-and-a-half times that of their female counterparts.
Head injury risk among helmeted riders was found to be significantly lower than unhelmeted riders. However, a high incidence of concussion with minor to moderate injuries, and diffuse axonal injury still occurred among helmeted riders. This illustrates the need for improvements in helmet design to reduce loading to the head in impacts of various types and severities.
Research team:
Dr TY Pang, K Thai, E Schilter, A/Prof Andrew McIntosh (School of Safety Sciences, UNSW), T Rankin (St George Hospital), Clinical A/Prof Kate Curtis
Faculty contact:
Clinical A/Prof Kate Curtis
+61 2 93510604
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