Özet:

Motorcycle accidents are growing problem especially in developing countries due to permanent impairments and severe workforce loss. In this study we aimed to investigate risk factors, trauma types and hospital cost of victims of motorcycle injuries hospitalized in our Clinics of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. The patients who were hospitalized in our clinic between 2005 and 2012 were investigated retrospectively. Information have been gathered from patients’ hospital records and phone calls. They were asked whether they had been using helmet or any other protective devices or they had been working as a courier when they had had the accident, and what was the cylinder volumes of their motorcycles. Patients’ injury types have been checked from hospital records. Solitary or multiple injuries of the wounded had been also noted. Length of hospitalization period and total cost of the hospitalization were recorded. Hospitalization costs were expressed in Turkish liras based on the current data issued by Central Bank of The Republic of Turkey. Motorcycle accidents usually affect young and middle aged men, thus they are a major cause of health expenses besides economic problems due to workforce loss. Although the laws in Turkey order wearing helmets while driving a motorcycle and it is well known that wearing protective devices remarkably diminishes the risk of injury, it seems that most drivers violate these laws. The governments should tighten traffic controls and take new precautions against motorcycle injuries especially in spring and summer months.

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