Pattern of Head Injury and Recovery in First and Second Rider in Motor Bike Accidents

To compare the rate and pattern ofhead injury sustained by the first vs. second riderand mortality rate and functional outcome of the twogroups.Methods: In this cross sectional study all adultpatients presenting with head injury resulting froma motorcycle accident, during the study period wereenrolled.Proforma’s were filled by the on-dutydoctor, including the demographic details, detailsregarding helmet and first or second rider,neurological status, additional injuries andradiological pattern of injury. These patients weredivided into two groups: Group-1 (First riders) andGroup-2 (Second riders) and both groups werecompared for the above details, and followed. Allpatients received the standard treatment for theirrespective injuries and the two groups werecompared for the mortality and neurological andfunctional outcome, assessed by using the ExtendedGlascow Outcome Scale. (EGOS).Results: A total of 360 patients were included in thestudy. Of these,65% patients were in group-1 and35% were in group-2. The mean age of the twogroups was 27.86 and 30.12 years respectively. Allpatients in group-1 were males while 61.9% ingroup-2 were males. Majority of the riders in bothgroups were not wearing helmets at the time ofaccident. Major injury in both the groups was facialinjury but the frequency of facial injury wassignificantly higher in group-1 as compared togroup-2 i.e. 20.5% vs. 11.9% (p = 0.040). CT brainshowed normal scan in 15.4% patients in group-1and in 2.4% patients in group-2. In group-1, CT brainshowed highest frequency of traumatic braincontusions (24.4%) followed by Extraduralhematomas (14.1%) and cranium fracture (12.8%). Ingroup-2, CT brain showed highest frequency oftraumatic brain contusions (35.7%) followed bycranium fracture (16.7%), ASDH (9.5%) and TSAH(9.5%). Complete recovery was significantly higherin group-1 as compared to group-2 (p = 0.011).Conclusion: In motor bike riding head injury is apotential threat not only to the 1st rider but also tothe 2nd rider as well. By using helmets head injury,which is fatal in most of the instances, can beavoided