Profile of trauma victims of motorcycle accidents treated at hospital São Paulo

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively, through analysis of medical records, the epidemiological aspects of patients traumatized by motorcycle accidents treated at the orthopedics ward, Hospital São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: It is a retrospective observational study. The analysis of patients' medical records comprised the period from January 2008 to December 2009. The data checked were: age, gender, type of collision, type and location of fracture, treatment performed (conservative or surgical), type of surgery, cost of synthesis material and hospitalization, period of hospitalization and postoperative complications. After data collection, statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: We analyzed 381 victims involved in motorcycle accidents. Patients were predominantly male (85%), with a mean age of 30.7 years old. Referring to distribution and site of lesions, 75.5% of individuals had lower limb fractures and in 95.4% of the cases, the treatment of choice was surgery. Twenty-nine patients were rehospitalized due to postoperative complications, such as exposure and failure of synthesis material, wound infection, necrosis, osteomyelitis, and pseudoarthrosis. CONCLUSION: It was possible to identify useful characteristics for planning preventative strategies to reduce the rate of motorcycle accidents and redirect public investment in health. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Study.