Iran: Bicycle injuries in Tehran

Of the more than 8 000 visits to trauma centres in Iran’s capital city, Tehran, a little more than 2% (170) involve bicycle injuries.

Like most unintentional injuries, more males are injured than females, and in Iran about 8 times many men are injured than women. Over three-quarters of the injuries (77.1%) are in riders under 20 years old. None of the patients wore a bicycle helmet. Many of the injuries (44.7%) involved crashes between bicycles and motor vehicles. There were four deaths – all head injuries. Most of the other injuries were minor, although the average length of hospital stay was five days.

The authors – all from the Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center at Tehran University – suggest that due to the head injury fatalities, helmets should be worn by riders at all times. In addition, they suggest that separate bicycle paths be constructed to help reduce injuries.

Karbakhsh-Davari M, Kaji A, Salimi J. Bicycle-related injuries in Tehran. Arch Iran Med 2008 11(1):94-7.

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