Full-face motorcycle helmets to reduce injury and death: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

Eva M Urréchaga; Lisa M Kodadek; Nikolay Bugaev; Zachary M Bauman; Kaushal H Shah; Hiba Abdel Aziz; Marshall A Beckman; John M Reynolds; Hahn Soe-Lin; Marie L Crandall; Rishi Rattan

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.06.018

Full-face motorcycle helmets to reduce injury and death: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

Am J Surg. 2022 Nov;224(5):1238-1246. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.06.018. Epub 2022 Jul 7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of Miami, USA. Electronic address: emu6@med.miami.edu.
² Department of Surgery, Yale University, USA. Electronic address: lisa.kodadek@yale.edu.
³ Department of Surgery, Tufts University, USA. Electronic address: nbugaev@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
⁴ Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska, USA. Electronic address: zachary.bauman@unmc.edu.
⁵ Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, USA. Electronic address: kaush.shah@gmail.com.
⁶ Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, USA. Electronic address: khwad2000@hotmail.com.
⁷ Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA. Electronic address: mbeckman@mcw.edu.
⁸ Department of Health Informatics, University of Miami, USA. Electronic address: jxr1327@med.miami.edu.
⁹ Department of Surgery, St. Joseph's Medical Center, USA. Electronic address: hahn.soelin@commonspirit.org.
¹⁰ Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Jacksonville, USA. Electronic address: marie.crandall@jax.ufl.edu.
¹¹ Department of Surgery, University of Miami, USA. Electronic address: rrattan@miami.edu.

PMID: 35821175
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.06.018

Abstract

Background: While motorcycle helmets reduce mortality and morbidity, no guidelines specify which is safest. We sought to determine if full-face helmets reduce injury and death.

Methods: We searched for studies without exclusion based on: age, language, date, or randomization. Case reports, professional riders, and studies without original data were excluded. Pooled results were reported as OR (95% CI). Risk of bias and certainty was assessed. (PROSPERO #CRD42021226929).

Results: Of 4431 studies identified, 3074 were duplicates, leaving 1357 that were screened. Eighty-one full texts were assessed for eligibility, with 37 studies (n = 37,233) eventually included. Full-face helmets reduced traumatic brain injury (OR 0.40 [0.23-0.70]); injury severity for the head and neck (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] mean difference -0.64 [-1.10 to -0.18]) and face (AIS mean difference -0.49 [-0.71 to -0.27]); and facial fracture (OR 0.26 [0.15-0.46]).

Conclusion: Full-face motorcycle helmets are conditionally recommended to reduce traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, and injury severity.

Keywords: Full-face; Guideline; Injury prevention; Motorcycle helmet.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Meta-Analysis
Review

MeSH terms

Accidents, Traffic
Brain Injuries, Traumatic* / prevention & control
Craniocerebral Trauma* / prevention & control
Head Protective Devices
Humans
Motorcycles
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Practice Management*
Skull Fractures* / prevention & control