Handlebar injury in children: The hidden danger

Bicycle injuries: A systematic review for forensic evaluation

Bicycles are employed as means of transportation across various age groups, from young students to the elderly, for work, education, health, and leisure trips. Despite not achieving high speeds, bicyclists remain vulnerable to severe and even fatal injuries when they are involved in traffic accidents. Although the rising awareness of ecological issues and traffic law enforcement mean that cyclists are increasingly susceptible to road traffic crashes and injuries. Injuries resulting from a traffic accident involving cyclists can show distinct and specific characteristics depending on the manner of occurrence. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the literature on injuries sustained in cyclists involved in road accidents describing and analysing elements useful for forensic assessment. The literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 1970 to March 2023. Eligible studies have investigated issues of interest to forensic medicine about traffic accidents involving bicycles. A total of 128 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were categorized and analyzed according to the anatomical regions of the body affected (head, neck, thoraco-abdominal, and limb injuries), and the assessment of lesions in reconstruction of the bicycle accident was examined and discussed. This review highlights that injuries resulting from a traffic accident involving cyclists can show distinct and specific characteristics depending on the manner of occurrence and the energy levels involved in the crash. The assessment of injuries offers valuable insights that integrated with circumstantial and engineering data perform the reconstruction of accident dynamics.

Traumatic abdominal wall hernias in the pediatric population: a 13-year institutional review

BACKGROUND

Pediatric traumatic abdominal wall hernias are rare but potentially devastating injuries. Although classically considered to be caused by handlebar injuries from bicycle accidents, our anecdotal experience suggests pediatric traumatic abdominal wall hernias are far more likely to occur following road traffic accidents and have a high association with other significant intra-abdominal injuries.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, mechanisms of injury, and associated injuries of traumatic abdominal wall hernias in the pediatric population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective observational cohort study from two large urban level 1 trauma centers. Institutional trauma registries were queried from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2020, for patients under 18 years of age diagnosed with traumatic abdominal wall hernias, excluding those without initial abdominopelvic CT imaging. Finalized CT reports and images were reviewed to confirm the presence of a traumatic abdominal wall hernia and document any associated secondary injuries. The medical record was reviewed to extract pertinent physical findings, interventions performed, and outcomes. Injury Severity Score (ISS) for each patient was calculated by the trauma registrar.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients with TAWH met inclusion criteria, with an overall frequency of 0.095% and a mean age of 10.6 years (range 3-17). Eleven patients were male (57.9%) with a mean ISS of 18.6 (range 1-48, including 63.2% with ISS > 15). The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle collision (N = 11, 57.9%) followed by bicycle accident (N = 3, 15.8%). A total of 17 (89.5%) had associated injuries, including 11 (57.9%) with intestinal injuries, 5 (26.3%) with pelvic fractures, 4 (21.1%) with femur fractures, 3 (15.8%) with splenic injuries, 3 (15.8%) with kidney injuries, and 3 (15.8%) with Chance fractures of the lumbar spine. All patients required surgery for the traumatic abdominal wall hernias and associated injuries.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric traumatic abdominal wall hernias are more likely to be seen following motor vehicle collisions, with a majority (89.5%) having associated injuries, most frequently to the bowel (57.9%). Handlebar injuries were seen in a minority of patients (15.8%) and were less likely to be associated with additional injuries.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Pediatric patients with a traumatic abdominal wall hernia on admission CT should be thoroughly evaluated for bowel injuries, especially in the setting of a motor vehicle collision.

Handlebar Hernia: An Uncommon Traumatic Abdominal Hernia

ABSTRACT

Handlebar hernia is a type of traumatic abdominal wall hernia caused by the impact of a bicycle handlebar against the abdominal wall. A good anamnesis and physical examination are important for the correct diagnosis, and ultrasonography is an accessible tool in the emergency department for imaging confirmation. We describe a case of an 11-year-old girl who presented to the emergency department after an abdominal trauma caused by a handlebar. Ultrasonography revealed an abdominal wall defect with herniation of omentum and bowel loops. Conservative management was initially established, followed by surgical treatment due to persistent symptoms.

Analysis of the use of upright abdominal radiography for evaluating intestinal perforations in handlebar traumas: Three case reports

RATIONALE

Intestinal perforations due to blunt abdominal handlebar trauma are difficult to diagnose. This report presents a retrospective analysis of 3 patients with intestinal perforations due to abdominal bicycle handlebar trauma who were diagnosed via upright abdominal radiography.

PATIENTS CONCERNS

All the patients lost their balance while riding a bicycle for leisure and had fallen on the handlebar tip. The patients were initially misdiagnosed at different-level health centers despite various radiologic investigations performed.

DIAGNOSIS

The patients' intestinal perforations were diagnosed via plain upright abdominal X-ray radiography (UAXR) in our institution.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

The children underwent exploratory laparotomy due to intestinal perforations. All the perforations were repaired either with primary closure or bowel resection and anastomosis with successful outcomes.

LESSONS

Pneumoperitoneum due to intestinal perforation can be diagnosed via UAXR with appropriate patient positioning and timing. This case series shows that to accurately diagnose intestinal perforations, upright plain X-ray should be routinely performed, carefully evaluated, and repeated in patients with enduring abdominal complaints.

["Handlebar" hernia: a rare type of traumatic parietal hernia]

Un patient de 20 ans avec une notion de chute sur le guidon d’une moto remontant à 28 jours, était admis pour douleurs abdominales aux urgences chirurgicales. L’examen clinique retrouvait un point d’impact circulaire au niveau de l’hypochondre gauche avec en regard une tuméfaction douloureuse, irréductible et non impulsive aux efforts de toux. Le diagnostic d’une hernie pariétale traumatique étranglée était posé. L’abord chirurgical par laparotomie médiane mettait en évidence une brèche pariétale avec incarcération d’une partie de l’épiploon qui était nécrosée. L’épiploon nécrosé était reséqué et une raphie de la brèche était réalisée. Les suites post-opératoires étaient simples et le patient sortait à j5.