Financial and Clinical Impact of Repeal of the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Helmet Law - Full Text View

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to find out how many helmeted versus non-helmeted motorcycle accident victims (MCA) sustain head and/or face injuries. Also, we will find out how much it costs to get medical care for head and face injuries in helmeted versus non-helmeted motorcycle victims. Finally, we will compare how long it takes helmeted versus non-helmeted motorcycle victims with face and head injuries to return to work.

Condition

Craniocerebral Trauma
Facial Injuries

MedlinePlus related topics:

Facial Injuries and Disorders Head and Brain Injuries Injuries Wounds

U.S. FDA Resources

Study Type:	Observational
Study Design:	Case Control, Prospective

Official Title:	Financial and Clinical Impact of Repeal of the Pennsylvania Helmet Law: A Multi-Center Prospective Study Comparing Helmeted and Non-Helmeted Motorcycle Accident Victims

Further study details as provided by Memorial Medical Center:

Biospecimen Retention: None Retained

Biospecimen Description:

Estimated Enrollment:	480
Study Start Date:	June 2005
Estimated Study Completion Date:	September 2009
Estimated Primary Completion Date:	September 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Groups/Cohorts

1

Treated and released from ED (minor injuries)

2

Trauma, admitted to the hospital (injured)

3

Fatalities reported by the coroner (deaths)

4

Reported by the police (No medical treatment)

Detailed Description:

This is a prospective, quasi-experimental research study that will compare clinical outcomes of helmeted versus non-helmeted motorcycle victims admitted to trauma centers, as well as victims treated and released from emergency departments.

The primary objective of this study is:

To determine if the financial charges and ratio of cost to charges (RCC), including acute hospitalization, rehabilitation or skilled care, outpatient care, and time to return to work (implying lost wages) is different between helmeted versus non-helmeted motorcyclists with head or face injuries

Secondary objectives include:

To determine if inpatient mean total acute care and downstream charges and RCC are higher for non-helmeted versus helmeted motorcycle victims admitted to three Pennsylvania trauma centers with head and face injuries
To determine the mean time of return to full duty work (at previous level of employment) is shorter for helmeted or non-helmeted motorcycle victims admitted to three Pennsylvania trauma centers with head and face injuries
To determine if non-helmeted or helmeted motorcycle victims admitted to three Pennsylvania trauma centers have increased incidence and severity of head and face injuries
To determine the incidence and severity of non-helmeted motorcycle accident victims is higher than helmeted counterparts treated and released from emergency departments for face and head injuries
To determine if non-helmeted motorcycle victims die at scene or in emergency departments (from head and face injuries) more often than helmeted motorcycle victims
To determine if more helmeted or non-helmeted motorcycle accident victims require no immediate medical care for head and face injuries

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No
Sampling Method:	Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

60 helmeted and 60 unhelmeted motorcycle riders in each cohort

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

All English speaking drivers/passengers of motorcycle accidents, 18 years or older, with head or face injuries served by participating study trauma centers, emergency departments or coroners.
All English speaking drivers/passengers of motorcycle accidents, 18 years of age or older, served by Pennsylvania police but did not require acute medical services.

Exclusion Criteria:

Non-English speaking
Served by trauma center, emergency department or coroner, but without haed or face injury
Less than 18 years of age
Moped accidents
Motorized bicycle accidents
Parked motorcycle accidents
Off road motorcycle accidents, not on a public street or highway
Dirtbike or motorcross accidents, involving vehicles not licensed for highway use

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00200135

Contacts


Contact: Jennifer Balon, MS,CRNP	814-534-3610	jbalon@conemaugh.org

Locations


United States, Pennsylvania
	Memorial Medical Center	Recruiting
	Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States, 15905
	Contact: Stephen L Miller, MD, FACS 814-534-3806 slmiller@conemaugh.org
	Contact: Jennifer Balon, MS,CRNP 814-534-3610 jbalon@conemaugh.org
	Principal Investigator: Stephen L Miller, MD, FACS
	Sub-Investigator: Rusell D Dumire, MD, FACS
	Geisinger Medical Center	Recruiting
	Danville, Pennsylvania, United States, 17822
	Contact: Susan Baro, DO, FACOS
	Contact: Christine Wargo, MSN,RN 570-271-7149 cwargo@geisinger.edu
	Principal Investigator: Susan Baros, DO, FACOS

Sponsors and Collaborators

Memorial Medical Center

Investigators


Principal Investigator:	Stephen L Miller, MD, FACS	Memorial Medical Center

More Information

Responsible Party:	Memorial Medical Center ( Stephen L Miller, MD,FACS/ Director, Trauma Services )
Study ID Numbers:	MMC 04-18
First Received:	September 12, 2005
Last Updated:	June 4, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00200135
Health Authority:	United States: Institutional Review Board