Helmets protect motorcyclists against facial injury: study

Los Angeles – In addition to protecting against traumatic head injuries, motorcycle helmets may help prevent facial injuries, according to a study published in the Archives of Surgery.

Using data from the National Trauma Data Bank on 46,362 patients between 2002 and 2006, researchers found that motorcycle riders who wore helmets were about 60 percent less likely to suffer facial injuries than riders who did not wear a helmet.

Researchers said data on helmet type was not available, and riders who did not sustain injuries severe enough to be admitted to a reporting hospital or who died at the scene were not included in the analysis.