Hindawi Publishing Corporation Emergency Medicine International Volume 2013, Article ID 760205, 4 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/760205 Research Article Roles of Motorcycle Type and Protective Clothing in Motorcycle Crash Injuries Mehmet Ozgür Erdogan, 1 Ozgur Sogut, 2 Sahin Colak, 1 Harun Ayhan, 1 Mustafa Ahmet Afacan, 1 and Dilay Satilmis 1 1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, 34710 Istanbul, Turkey 2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Bezmialem University Hospital, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey Correspondence should be addressed to Mehmet Ozg¨ ur Erdogan; ozgurtheerdogan@mynet.com Received 2 August 2013; Accepted 1 October 2013 Academic Editor: Harold K. Simon Copyright © 2013 Mehmet Ozg¨ ur Erdogan et al. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background. he aims of this study were to identify subgroups of motorcyclists with a higher accident risk and evaluate the eiciency of protective clothing for preventing injuries. Methods. A 1-year prospective study of motorcycle crashes was conducted beginning in June 2012. Participants were patients involved in motorcycle crashes and admitted to our emergency department. Results. A total of 226 patients were included in the study. In total, 174 patients were involved in crashes with light motorcycles. Patients involved in a motorcycle accident without a helmet had a higher incidence of head and maxillofacial trauma. Motorcycle jackets were not protective for systemic injuries ( > 0.05) or upper extremity fractures ( > 0.05). Motorcycle pants ( > 0.05) and motorcycle shoes ( > 0.05) were not protective against leg and foot fractures. However, motorcycle protective clothes were protective against sot-tissue injuries ( = 0.001). Conclusion. Riders of heavy motorcycles rode more safely than riders of light motorcycles. Light motorcycle riders were the most vulnerable and comprised the largest percentage of motorcyclists. Helmets may be efective for preventing head and facial injuries. Other protective clothes were not efective against fractures or systemic injuries. 1. Introduction Motorcycles are the fastest growing sector of motor vehicles worldwide and comprise the majority of all motor vehicles in low- and middle-income countries [1]. Motorcycles are an important part of social life in high-income countries [1]. Both heavy and light motorcycles are used in Turkey. A recent study revealed that heavy motorcycles tend to be used in summer and light motorcycles are used mostly during spring and fall. Light motorcycles are generally used for work and transport, whereas heavy motorcycles are preferred for vaca- tion and travel [2]. Diferent rider characteristics are related to the various types of motorcycles and motorcycle-related accidents. Motorcyclists are a vulnerable group of riders and have a particularly high accident risk [2]. hus, there is a need for research to identify risks for the motorcyclist during a crash. he aims of this study were to identify subgroups of motorcyclists with a higher accident risk and evaluate the eiciency of protective clothing for preventing injuries [1]. 2. Methods A 1-year prospective study of motorcycle crashes was con- ducted beginning in June 2012. he participants in the study were patients involved in motorcycle crashes and admitted to our emergency department (ED). Participants were inter- viewed in the ED ater their initial management. Information about the accident, motorcycle, helmet use, motorcycle cloth- ing, injury location, speed, license, and alcohol consumption was recorded. he locations of the injuries were the head, face, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, spine, hands, forearm, arm, leg, feet, and sot tissue (abrasion and lacerations). Light motorcycles were considered to have an engine limit of 125 cm 3 , whereas heavy motorcycles were deined as those with an engine volume of >125 cc 3 [2]. Motorcycle clothing was considered to include a helmet, jacket, pants, shoes, and gloves. Other equipment (boots, sport shoes, and coats) was not considered protective motorcycle clothing. his study obtained ethical