Identifying safety factors and patterns of bicycle trauma in a tertiary level 1 trauma center in Boston, Massachusetts [post]

2019 unpublished
Increasing bicycle ridership is accompanied by ongoing bicycle-related accidents in many urban cities, including Boston, Massachusetts. There is a need for improved understanding of patterns and risks of urban bicycle usage. We describe the injuries and outcomes of bicycle-related trauma in Boston, Massachusetts, and determine accident-related factors and behaviors associated with injury severity. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of bicycle-related injuries presenting to a Level 1
more » ... auma center in Boston, Massachusetts between 2001 and 2015; of this initial group, 313 patients returned a post-injury survey regarding accident-related factors, personal safety practices, and road and environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Injury characteristics and outcomes were obtained from chart review. Results: Over half of all cyclists biked for commuting and recreational purposes (54%), used a road without a bike lane (58%), and a majority wore a helmet (91%). The most common injury pattern involved the extremities (42%) followed by head injuries (13%). Bicycling for commuting rather than recreation was significantly associated with decreased injury severity, and cycling on a road with a dedicated bicycle lane, the absence of gravel or sand, and use of bicycle lights trended strongly towards significantly decreased injury severity. After any bicycle
doi:10.21203/rs.2.12430/v1 fatcat:otuv3syptnhz7htgfqk2scqoke