Five-year review of spinal cord injuries in motorcyclists.

One hundred and twenty motorcyclists with significant spinal cord injuries, who were admitted to hospital over a five-year period, have been reviewed. Fifty-one per cent of them suffered direct injuries to the vertebral column and spinal cord, the majority remaining permanently paraplegic. Thirteen of the 25 riders who became tetraplegic were wearing open-face helmets, and 11 of these remained permanently paralysed. The survey suggests that the open-face helmet offers less protection to the cervical spinal cord than the full-face helmet. There is an urgent need to review standards for the design of helmets worn by motorcyclists.