The evaluation of bicycle accidents that were admitted to a pediatric emergency department

BACKGROUND: We planned this study to evaluate trauma cases secondary to bicycle driving in childhood and to draw attention to the importance of the regulation of traffic rules, the education of bicycle drivers, and the importance of helmet usage. METHODS: Data in this study were obtained by retrospective review of the files of trauma cases admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Unit of Trakya University Medical Faculty between January 2003 and August 2005. Patients' age, gender, clinical signs, type of injury, season of the event and percentage of hospitalization were obtained from hospital records. RESULTS: Fifteen (24.6%) of 61 cases who were admitted to our emergency unit were females and 46 (75.4%) were males. The types of trauma of all patients who suffered from bicycle accidents were as following: 42 (68.9%) head trauma, 29 (47.5%) extremity trauma, 49 (80.3%) soft tissue trauma, 2 (3.3%) abdominal trauma, and one case of urogenital trauma. Also multiple traumas were present in most of these cases. Thirteen patients had extremity fractures and three had cranial fractures. None of the bicycle drivers were using helmets at the time of the trauma. CONCLUSION: Bicycle drivers should have specific education, helmet use must become widespread and special traffic regulations have to be settled. Language: tr