Abstract
Objective
To describe the characteristics of motorcycle accidents and victims hospitalized in Brazilian a large hospital and reference in trauma.
Methods
A documentary research study was developed with a sample of 343 motorcycle accident victims hospitalized at the Hospital of Restoration in the year 2014. Data was collected in patients’ medical records. Demographic variables were analyzed; related to the circumstances of the accident, clinics and treatment. The Epi Info 7 program was used, through descriptive statistics for analysis. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to analyze proportions. In cases where the assumptions of the chi-square test were not satisfied Fisher’s exact test was applied. All conclusions were drawn considering the level of significance of 5%.
Results
The largest number was male (87.5%), in the age group of 20 to 29 years (34.7%), unmarried (86.7%). The highest frequency of accidents was in on Sunday (25.1%) and at night (32.1%). The most affected body region was the head (43.9%). The mean length of hospital stay was 15.9 ± 23.8 (1-161) days. The main outcome was hospital discharge (88.5%). The proportion comparison test was significant in all variables analyzed (p-value <0.001). 51 (14.8%) of the victims suffered some kind of side effect.
Conclusion
The profile of the victims was 20 to 29 years old, male, with the head being the most affected body area. The profile of hospitalizations due to motorcycle accidents in a trauma hospital, brings relevant information on the characteristics of victims and accidents, which may provide subsidies for injury prevention strategies.
Cause of death; Motorcycles; Accidents, traffic; Emergencies; Emergency services, hospital