Search Results (120)

Background Although cycling has definite health benefits, it is certainly not a risk-free activity; its increasing use is associated with a rise in accidents. This study aims to characterize cycling injuries and their associated factors in a tertiary trauma center, including injury severity, accident circumstances, and in-hospital costs. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients over 15 years of age hospitalized after a cycling accident. Collected variables included the characteristics of the accident, the epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries, helmet use, injury severity as assessed using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), the Injury Severity Score (ISS), and costs. Results: A total of 131 patients were included, of whom 90.8% were male, with a mean age of 43.2 ± 14.1 years. Most accidents were due to falls (83.7%). Accidents occurred in urban areas (56.3%), inter-urban roads (28.1%), and rural areas (15.6%). Upper limb fractures, particularly clavicle fractures (13.7%), were the most frequent injuries (31.0%). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was present in 30.0% of patients, and 17.6% were polytraumatized. Injury severity was higher in males (p = 0.009) and in collisions compared with falls (p = 0.033). It was also correlated with length of hospital stay (r = 0.376). Patients with TBI exhibited significantly higher ISSs (p < 0.001). Helmet use was reported in 71.1% of patients and was more frequent in rural areas (p < 0.001) and associated with lower neurological AIS scores (p = 0.031). The mean cost per patient was €8545 ± 15,298, increasing with severity of injury (p < 0.001), and was higher in polytraumatized patients (p < 0.001) and in those with TBI. Conclusions: Cycling accidents most frequently resulted in upper limb fractures. Helmet use was more common where mandatory and was associated with less severe neurological injuries but not with a lower incidence of TBI. Costs increased with injury severity, particularly in patients with TBI and longer hospital stays. Full article

Road traffic crashes remain a global public health burden and a persistent resource allocation problem that undermines progress toward the sustainable development of safe, equitable mobility systems. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets fewer than 10 fatalities per 100,000 population, a goal aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 (halving road traffic deaths) and SDG 11.2 (safe and sustainable transport), yet a gap persists between crash prediction research and how agencies deploy enforcement resources. This paper builds a closed-loop predict–optimize–evaluate framework connecting Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks to a goal-distance gap metric and constrained optimization, feeding forecast outputs directly into enforcement scheduling decisions. Using monthly casualty data from official Saudi sources covering the entire kingdom (all 13 administrative regions) from 2010 through 2024 (N = 42,856 fatal and serious injuries across 180 monthly observations), we validate LSTM forecasting against five benchmarks plus a GRU and a Transformer baseline, apply gap analysis as a standardized goal-distance metric, optimize enforcement allocation with triangulated elasticity estimates, and evaluate past policy reforms through multi-method counterfactual analysis. A headline finding is that roughly 28% of fatal and serious injuries cluster within only about 6% of weekly hours, creating an unusually concentrated target for enforcement reallocation. The LSTM achieves RMSE = 2.47 with MASE = 0.83, beating ARIMA by 35% while maintaining robustness during COVID disruptions (RMSE = 2.38 in the post-acute period 2022–2024 versus 2.61 in the acute period 2020–2021). Temporal analysis confirms 28% of fatalities (95% CI: 26.0–30.0%) cluster within 6% of weekly hours. Enforcement elasticity triangulated from three independent sources converges at α ≈ 0.31 (90% CI: 0.25–0.40). The optimization model allocates 56% of enforcement resources to Thursday–Friday midnight-to-4 AM windows, projecting a 17.1% casualty reduction (90% CI: 13.5–20.6% under Monte Carlo uncertainty in α). Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis with 10,000 iterations confirms a median benefit-cost ratio of 1.88 (90% CI: 1.18–2.97), with P (BCR > 1.0) = 98.9%, using locally calibrated VSL = SAR 4.2 million (equivalent to approximately USD 1.12 million at the SAMA-pegged rate of 3.75 SAR/USD, in constant 2024 prices). Counterfactual evaluation finds that the post-2018-reform period was associated with a 22.1% casualty reduction (95% CI: 16.4–27.8%), with magnitude robust across four methods (LSTM counterfactual, Bayesian Structural Time-Series, Synthetic Control, and an inverse-variance-weighted synthesis of the three); we stress, however, that attribution to the driving reform itself cannot be cleanly separated from concurrent Saher camera expansion, public awareness campaigns, and trauma-care improvements. By translating prediction into evidence-based, resource-efficient enforcement, the framework supports sustainable road safety policy in middle-income and rapidly motorizing settings. Full article

In emergency response, dispatch speed and trauma-center activation depend on accurate severity classification. Current classifiers face two problems: extreme class imbalance and a semantic gap that leaves numerical models blind to textual severity cues. Resampling methods adjust class distributions but add no new information, while LLM-based hybrids exhibit feature dilution, where numerical priors override semantic reasoning. We propose SAFE (Semantic-Augmented Fusion Ensemble), a framework that routes features through parallel branches: XGBoost for numerical data and a Small Language Model for text. Structured records are enriched into narratives with severity-predictive keywords. The branches merge through class-adaptive probability fusion, governed by an analytically derived condition that preserves minority-class detections against majority-biased priors. On the US Accidents dataset and UK road accident records, Severe Recall rises from 30.7% (RF + SMOTE) to 91.2%, with overall accuracy reaching 83.3%; Serious Recall reaches 54.5% against 33.8% (XGBoost + SMOTE-ENN) on UK data. Keyword enrichment is essential: its removal collapses recall regardless of model size. SAFE enables severity-aware triage using only structured records that transportation agencies already collect. Deployment efficiency remains practical. SAFE achieves 188.4 ms mean per-sample latency at 5.3 samples/s on consumer hardware (Qwen3-4B INT8, 6.41 GB memory footprint), supporting operational batch classification of incident records. Full article

Appendicular soft tissue sarcoma (aSTS) is a group of highly heterogeneous tumors of mesenchymal origin for which standard care usually includes surgical resection with or without radiation therapy. The main goal of surgical treatment in aSTS is to achieve wide tumor resection with negative margins while promoting the best function possible for the affected limb. Orthoplastic surgery represents the concept of a multidisciplinary approach comprising a synergistic collaboration between orthopedic and plastic surgeons. The development of this philosophy allows us to push forward the concept of limb salvage surgery for sarcomas, even when dealing with extremely complex cases. Reconstruction techniques integrated with orthoplastic principles range from simple to highly complex surgeries. Vascularized auto- or allo-graft tissue transfers illustrate how far reconstruction options can go, allowing for repair of large soft tissue defects or even restoration of muscle function in key anatomic segments after oncological resection. The reported experience with orthoplastic philosophy in aSTS suggests that it is a feasible and reproducible strategy that can achieve limb salvage rates above 90%, optimal oncologic local control characterized by more than 95% of wide margin resection, and improved functional and esthetic results. Most patients with aSTS treated under orthoplastic principles present good-to-excellent postoperative Musculoskeletal Oncology Society (MSTS) scores, confirming the advantages of this comprehensive approach. While there is significant experience with the orthoplastic approach for trauma cases, the road still needs to be paved for musculoskeletal oncologic reconstruction. Nonetheless, the results are promising and could inspire a wider adoption of structured orthoplastic protocols for sarcoma patient care. Herein, the authors explore the current practice regarding the application of collaborative orthoplastic approaches for the management of appendicular soft tissue sarcomas, reporting on outcomes and elaborating on future trends. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cervical spine injuries (CSIs) are life-threatening conditions commonly resulting from road traffic accidents and falls; improper first aid management can significantly worsen neurological outcomes. Public awareness and correct first aid response are critical for preventing secondary injury; despite this, available data from the southern provinces of Saudi Arabia remain insufficient. This study aimed to assess public awareness and first aid preparedness for CSIs across four southern regions of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed across multiple regions, encompassing 1179 adults from Jazan, Aseer, Al-Baha, and Najran between 2025 and 2026. A validated online questionnaire was employed for data collection to assess CSI awareness, recognition of injury signs, and appropriate first aid responses. Awareness scores of ≥60% were classified as good. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of awareness. Results: The mean awareness score was 16.0 ± 4.8 out of a possible total of 20 points, corresponding to 80% of the total score, with 87% of participants demonstrating good awareness. The majority of respondents recognized the importance of spinal immobilization (89%), maintaining head–neck alignment (95%), and contacting emergency services before intervention (93%). Correct responses to emergency scenarios were recorded in 83% of participants. Notably, only 39% had attended formal medical or trauma training, and merely 3% reported real-life first aid experience. Training attendance (β = 1.39, p < 0.001) and marital status (married; β = 1.37, p = 0.004) were identified as independent predictors of higher awareness scores. Conclusions: Although general public awareness of CSI first aid is high, formal training participation remains critically low, revealing a substantial gap between knowledge and practice. Integrating structured first aid training into community, workplace, and primary healthcare settings is essential to improve trauma outcomes and reduce preventable disability. Full article

Background: Timely prehospital management is critical for survival after traumatic injury. In rapidly growing metropolises, emergency medical service (EMS) systems often struggle to provide equitable care amid urban sprawl and traffic congestion. This study investigated spatiotemporal inequalities in trauma-related EMS response in a rapidly expanding capital city (Astana, Kazakhstan) to inform healthcare optimization and urban health equity. Methods: We analyzed a five-year population-based dataset of 26,073 trauma-related EMS calls recorded between 2020 and 2024. Spatial patterns were examined using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and Getis–Ord Gi* hotspot analysis. Road-network modeling assessed accessibility at 3, 5, and 10 min thresholds using a GIS-based network analyst framework. Results: Males accounted for 60.1% of utilization and had higher clinical severity (hospitalization rate: 45.5% vs. 40.3%, p < 0.001). Demand peaked at 20:00, coinciding with peak traffic. The mean total response time was 21.63 min, and only 16.9% of calls met the 10 min benchmark. Significant accessibility gaps were found in the Baikonur district (61.4% delay rate). Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that while the EMS system provides broad geographic coverage, it suffers from systemic spatiotemporal bottlenecks. Targeted infrastructure expansion in underserved peripheral districts and the implementation of dynamic deployment models are necessary to enhance urban health equity and reduce preventable mortality in expanding metropolitan areas. Full article

Primary Objective: To characterize high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) fracture patterns, namely orientation and otic capsule status, among Sudanese patients with acute temporal bone trauma. Secondary Objectives: (i) To quantify the prevalence and pattern of concomitant craniofacial fractures, (ii) to describe early audiologic outcomes, and (iii) to document facial nerve dysfunction. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study of 45 consecutive patients (≥5 years) with HRCT-confirmed TBF sustained within 7 days of injury, managed at two tertiary otolaryngology centers in Khartoum (October 2022–March 2023). All imaging, clinical, and audiologic variables were recorded once at the index presentation (≤7 days after trauma); the study did not include longitudinal follow-up. Two blinded experts independently classified fracture orientation (longitudinal, transverse, mixed/oblique), otic capsule status (sparing [OCS] vs. otic capsule-violating [OCV]), and ancillary HRCT signs (ossicular chain disruption, tympanic plate fracture, pneumolabyrinth/CSF leak); inter-observer reliability was assessed with Cohen’s κ. Concomitant craniofacial fractures, pure-tone audiometry, and House–Brackmann facial nerve grades were recorded. Predictor–outcome associations were examined with χ² statistics (p < 0.05). Results: Mean age 35.9 ± 17.4 years; 78% male. Road traffic accidents were associated with 58% of injuries. HRCT showed 60% longitudinal, 20% transverse, and 20% mixed/oblique fractures; 27% were OCV. Ossicular chain disruption, tympanic plate fracture, and ppneumolabyrinthCSF leak were present in 17.8%, 13.3%, and 8.9%, respectively. Concomitant craniofacial fractures occurred at 27%, chiefly Lefort III (15.6%) and Lefort II (8.9%). Transverse/mixed fractures were strongly associated with Lefort II–III injuries (χ² = 16.2, p = 0.001); age (p = 0.21) and sex (p = 0.08) were non-significant. Conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss affected 69%, 13%, and 18%; facial nerve palsy occurred in 58%. Inter-observer agreement was substantial to almost perfect for all imaging variables (κ = 0.77–0.92). Conclusions: Although longitudinal fractures predominated, over one-quarter breached the otic capsule and one-fifth followed transverse/mixed planes, configurations associated with higher odds of conductive deafness, facial nerve palsy, and complex mid-facial fractures. HRCT provides reliable characterization and should underpin comprehensive head-and-mid-face trauma protocols. Enhanced road safety policies and multidisciplinary trauma care are vital for reducing neuro-otologic morbidity in resource-limited settings. Full article

The high rate of bike commuting around the globe has greatly transformed the mode of transportation in cities, but the high speeds of motorized cycling have contributed to a high rate of serious road trauma. Although conventional helmets offer necessary passive structural protection, they do not consider the most important aspect of the emergency response, which is the Golden Hour the time frame during which medical intervention can have the most significant impact. This paper is a development and validation of an autonomous, low-cost smart helmet architecture that is programmed to operate in real-time to detect accidents and autonomously inform the operator of accidents. The system is built up of an ESP32 microcontroller with a multi-modal sensor package, which comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU), force-impact sensors, and MQ-3 alcohol sensors to conduct proactive safety screening. To overcome the single threshold limitation of unreliable systems, a time-windowed sensor-fusion algorithm was applied in order to distinguish between normal riding dynamics and bona fide collisions. This reasoning involves concurrent cues of high-G inertial rotations and physical impacting features over a time window of 500 ms to reduce spurious activations. The architecture of the system is completely self-sufficient and employs an in-built GPS-GSM module to send the geographical location through SMS without the need to have a smartphone connection. The prototype was also put through 150 experimental tests, with some conducted in laboratories, and real-world running tests in diverse terrains. The findings reveal an accuracy in detection of 93.7, a false positive rate (FPR) of 2.6 and a mean emergency alert latency of 2.8 s. In addition, it was found that structural integrity was confirmed at ECE 22.05 impact conditions using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), with a safety factor of 1.38. These quantitative results mean that the proposed system is an effective way to address a cultural shift between passive structural protection and active rescue intervention as a statistical and computationally efficient safety measure of modern micro-mobility. Full article

Background: Vulnerable road users (VRUs), including children and older adults, face a high risk of fatal road traffic accidents (RTAs) due to limited protection and greater injury susceptibility. Romania reports some of the highest child and elderly RTA mortality rates in the European Union. This study analyzed medico-legal autopsies from the Timisoara Institute of Legal Medicine (TILM) between 2017 and 2021 to compare fatalities in these two groups and identify key risk factors. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on autopsy records of children (0–17 years) and older adults (>70 years) who died in RTAs during the study period. Data on demographics, type of road user, traumatic injuries, cause of death, and accident circumstances were extracted and supplemented by police reports. Comparative statistical analyses were performed for categorical and continuous variables. Results: Among 395 RTA autopsies, 23 (5.8%) involved children and 51 (12.9%) older adults. Most child victims were passengers (56.5%), whereas elderly fatalities occurred mainly among pedestrians (33.3%) and cyclists (25.5%), with statistically significant differences between age groups. Polytrauma was the leading cause of death in both categories, though isolated cranio-cerebral trauma was proportionally more frequent in children. Crash circumstances also showed age-related patterns, with children more involved in high-energy collisions and older adults more frequently struck as pedestrians. Survival intervals showed a similar distribution across groups. Conclusions: Child and elderly RTA fatalities in Romania share common determinants, primarily driver-related behaviors and insufficient safety measures, while also exhibiting distinct age-related vulnerabilities. Autopsy-based data highlights these patterns and can guide targeted interventions such as stricter law enforcement, public education, and infrastructure improvements. Full article

Background: Pediatric road traffic injuries (RTIs) represent a significant public health concern, particularly in countries like Romania, where road infrastructure and safety remain challenges. Despite recent economic reclassification, Romania continues to report high rates of pediatric traffic-related injuries. Non-fatal RTIs often result in long-term physical and psychological harm. This study aims to assess age- and gender-specific injury patterns and mechanisms of non-fatal RTIs in children and adolescents, using data from “St. Mary’s” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children in Iași over a ten-year period to inform targeted prevention strategies. Methods: This 10-year retrospective study (2015–2024) was conducted at “St. Mary’s” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children in Iași, Romania, a regional referral center. Data from 1074 pediatric patients (aged 1 month–17 years, 11 months) with RTIs were analyzed using ICD-10 codes and verified manually. Variables included demographics, injury type, mechanism, and treatment. Patients were stratified into four age groups. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The highest incidence was observed among boys (77.7%) and children aged 10–14 years. Car passengers and cyclists constituted the most frequently affected groups, with only 11% of passengers appropriately restrained and 78% of cyclists not wearing helmets. Common injuries included excoriations, thoracic contusions, and abdominal trauma, with notable variations by age and sex. Thoracic injuries were more frequent among girls, whereas younger children exhibited a higher incidence of abdominal trauma. Conclusions: The findings emphasize critical safety gaps in child restraint and helmet use and highlight the urgent need for targeted, age-specific road safety interventions and improved public health education. Full article

Background: Today, in Western countries, patients with allo-antibodies to high-frequency antigens or with complex antibody mixtures represent one of the most significant challenges in transfusion medicine. Another important aspect is the prevention of allo-immunization of patients who lack high-frequency antigens. In these conditions, the availability of a bank of a rare red blood cell group, supported by a database of donors subjected to extensive erythrocyte typing (preferably using erythrogenomic study), can constitute a resource of great value. Materials and Methods: Repeat Caucasian blood donors of group A or O, with selected Rh phenotypes (CCDee, ccDEE, ccdee, ccDee), aged under 52 years, were considered for typing. Moreover, we selected all non-Caucasian repeat blood donors for typing. For extended phenotyping and genotyping we adopted commercial methods supplied by Grfols and Werfen, respectively. For cryopreservation, we selected a high glycerol method in −80 °C electric freezer; blood unit processing was performed using a Haemonetics ACP 215 automated cell processor with close circuit devices. Results: We considered the five patients as follows: PA was massively transfused for a road trauma, developed multiple allo-antibodies (anti-D, anti-k), and required compatible blood units for an elective cardiac surgery; PB was a pregnant woman with anti-Coa (a high frequency antigen) monitored during pregnancy and in which it was necessary to proceed with the transfusion of the newborn; PC was a poly-transfused patient with myelo dysplastic syndrome who developed multiple allo-antibodies (anti-k, anti-CW, anti-Lea) and required continuous supportive therapy, including the procurement of compatible units and the implementation of therapeutic actions in an attempt to reduce the transfusion requirement using luspatercept; PD was a patient with sickle cell disease. They had a Fy (null) genotype, making it very difficult to find compatible units; and PE was interesting for the complexity of the immunohematological and erythrogenomic study performed to characterize a recipient with a rare phenotype and thus allow the transfusion of compatible units, preventing allo-immunization. Discussion: In this report, we have maintained a narrative approach. Starting with five patients representing as many clinical situations as possible, we have illustrated the approach followed for the immune-hematological study and the choices made to try to guarantee effective and safe transfusion therapy. Full article

Objectives: Among the spectrum of spinal injuries, Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality (SCIWORA) occupies a unique and challenging position. SCIWORA presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its broad clinical and radiological heterogeneity. While most children recover favorably with conservative treatment, a subset may require surgery based on imaging findings. The findings underscore the need for standardized diagnostic criteria, MRI-based classification systems, and evidence-based treatment algorithms to improve consistency in care and long-term neurological outcomes. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Embase databases was performed through June 2025 following PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies of pediatric SCIWORA (age < 18 years) reporting demographics, clinical and radiological features, management, and outcomes. Results: Sixty studies encompassing a total of 848 pediatric patients were included. The mean patient age was 9.33 years (±2.52), with a slight male predominance. The most common trauma mechanisms were road traffic accidents (40.3%), sports injuries (22%), and falls (18.8%). MRI findings were available in 399 cases: 46% had intraneural lesions (Type IIb), 39% showed no abnormality on MRI (Type I, or “real SCIWORA”), 9% had combined lesions (Type IIc), and 6% had extraneural abnormalities (Type IIa). Neurological severity at presentation was primarily ASIA Grade A (46.25%), but follow-up data showed substantial improvement, with ASIA E (normal function) increasing to 49.78%. Overall, 66.2% of patients experienced neurological improvement, while 33.8% remained stable. Conservative treatment was employed in 95.41% of cases. Only 4.59% underwent surgery, which was typically reserved for MRI-positive lesions demonstrating spinal instability or compression. Conclusions: Pediatric SCIWORA remains an uncommon but potentially devastating injury, with an outcome highly dependent on MRI findings and initial neurological status. This systematic review aims to clarify the contemporary understanding of pediatric SCIWORA, delineating “real” SCIWORA from other SCIWORA-like entities, and synthesizing the latest evidence regarding epidemiology, mechanisms, clinical presentation, MRI findings, and management in children. Full article

Objectives: Tibial anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures (TAFs) are avulsions of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) from its insertion at the tibial intercondylar eminence that share the same trauma mechanism as ACL tears. TAFs were initially considered to be a pediatric equivalent to adult ACL ruptures due to the weaker insertion of the ACL on the immature tibial spine. Recent literature suggests that adult TAFs may be more common than previously thought. The incidence, possible concomitant injuries, and other differences between pediatric and adult TAFs remain a topic of ongoing debate in the literature. This systematic review provides a descriptive synthesis of the symptoms, biomechanics, and treatment outcomes of TAFs in pediatric and adult populations. This study highlights notable trends but avoids formal comparisons or meta-analysis due to heterogeneity in the literature. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on human-related studies involving tibial anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures, identified in PubMed^®® and EMBASE^®® databases between 2000 and 2024. Studies in English or German were included, while editorials, reviews, experimental studies, and papers with insufficient data were excluded. Data were extracted on patient demographics, trauma mechanisms, fracture classification, diagnostic modalities, treatment approaches, and clinical outcomes. Specific outcome parameters included: incidence and type of postoperative complications, return to sport rate, revision surgeries, hardware removal rates, and duration of follow-up. Due to heterogeneity in reporting, a descriptive synthesis approach was used rather than a meta-analysis. Results: The systematic search identified 3938 publications, with 2707 articles screened after duplicate removal. A total of 56 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 677 tibial avulsion fractures (TAF) were analyzed, with 208 (30.4%) pediatric and 469 (69.6%) adult patients. Type III fractures were most common in both groups (pediatric: 63.9%, adult: 63.4%). Concomitant injuries were more frequent in adults (35.6%) than children (8.2%). Arthroscopic surgery was the predominant technique (pediatric: 79.1%, adult: 87.8%). Fixation methods differed: pediatric cases more often used screws (40.5%) and sutures (38.2%), while adults favored sutures (49.7%) and suture anchors (23.1%). Complications were more frequent in pediatric patients (35.1% vs. 17.1%). Conclusions: TAFs show age-related differences in injury patterns and outcomes. Pediatric cases are mostly sports-related, while adult cases are commonly due to road traffic accidents. Concomitant injuries are more frequent in adults, whereas pediatric patients experience higher rates of arthrofibrosis and instability. Adults are more prone to malunion and non-union. These findings support the need for age-specific diagnostic and treatment strategies. Full article

Background and Objectives: Despite the potential benefits for the patient, aerospace interventions pose significant risks. Pre-hospital triage and patient transport are two essential elements for achieving an organized system of trauma. The advantages and disadvantages of using land transport from the scene of the accident to the trauma centers have been extensively studied, but there are gaps for air transport, and their exact level of efficiency is not known. Materials and Methods: The present study includes a total number of 77 patients, present at SMURD Galați air service for polytraumas caused by various mechanisms, with pluri-regional involvement. The identification of patients, as well as the selection of the most important anamnestic data, was performed after signing a confidentiality agreement; subsequently, all this information was introduced in centralized tables made in the statistical program IBM SPSS Statistics V24. Results: Out of the total of 77 polytraumatized patients who needed air transfer, an average age of 17.3 years will be noted, with a predominance of males in a 2:1 ratio. Most polytraumas are due to road accidents (74%) and patients with minimal tri-regional damage (51.4%). Conclusions: Taking into account the existing statistics in this research, it is important to implement prevention elements, designed based on the profile of the polytraumatized patient. Thus, accessing the most important characteristics of these patients can be an extremely important starting point in reducing the incidence of polytrauma or even patient deaths. Full article

Background: Bicycles constitute a primary means of transportation, particularly within the scope of urban micromobility. However, the use of this mode of transport is associated with the risk of traffic accidents and subsequent maxillofacial trauma. Cyclists are classified as vulnerable road users, among whom the assessment of injury patterns is a significant issue. This study aimed to identify the most common maxillofacial fractures resulting from bicycle-related traffic accidents. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of patients treated at the Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Clinical Hospital in Poznan, who sustained maxillofacial injuries as a result of bicycle-related accidents between 2019 and 2023. Results: A total of 99 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most of the study population was males (70.7%), with a median age of 38. Accidents most frequently occurred during the summer months and on Fridays and weekends. The most common fracture site was the mandible (40.4%), with double fractures being the predominant type. Additionally, zygomatic-orbital fractures were frequently observed (30.3%). In terms of treatment, surgical intervention was predominant, and the mean duration of hospitalisation was 6 days. Only 5.1% of patients were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Furthermore, it was found that isolated mandibular fractures occurred more frequently in younger patients, whereas midface fractures of the Le Fort II and III types were more commonly observed in individuals under the influence of alcohol at the time of the event. Moreover, accidents involving alcohol consumption were associated with a higher incidence of concomitant cranio-cerebral injuries. Conclusions: Defining the profile of maxillofacial fractures resulting from bicycle accidents constitutes a clinically relevant issue. Additionally, identifying the main risk factors and developing preventive measures is of critical importance. Full article