Injuries of motorcyclists and bicyclists examined at autopsy.

Few studies of autopsy findings of persons dying of head and neck injuries in cyclists have been published. We performed a retrospective analysis of injury severity and the relation between head and neck injuries and helmet use. Seventy-six bicyclists and motorcyclists were collected from among the forensic autopsy at the Jikei University School of Medicine. From autopsy findings and accident reports, the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) and the injury severity score (ISS) were calculated and analyzed epidemiologically. As a result, helmet use significantly decreased the severity of head and neck injuries but had no effect on overall injury severity or the severity of injuries to other body regions. Furthermore, helmets had little effect on injuries remote from the point of impact, injuries resulting from angular acceleration, or injuries at the junction of the head and neck. These findings may be useful for both forensic pathologists and clinicians evaluating injuries in bicyclists and motorcyclists.