Abstract
While motorcycle helmets reduce mortality and morbidity, no guidelines specify which is safest. We sought to determine if full-face helmets reduce injury and death.
We searched for studies without exclusion based on: age, language, date, or randomization. Case reports, professional riders, and studies without original data were excluded. Pooled results were reported as OR (95% CI). Risk of bias and certainty was assessed. (PROSPERO #CRD42021226929).
Of 4431 studies identified, 3074 were duplicates, leaving 1357 that were screened. Eighty-one full texts were assessed for eligibility, with 37 studies (n = 37,233) eventually included. Full-face helmets reduced traumatic brain injury (OR 0.40 [0.23–0.70]); injury severity for the head and neck (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] mean difference −0.64 [-1.10 to −0.18]) and face (AIS mean difference −0.49 [-0.71 to −0.27]); and facial fracture (OR 0.26 [0.15–0.46]).
Full-face motorcycle helmets are conditionally recommended to reduce traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, and injury severity.
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•Full-face helmets significantly reduce traumatic brain injury.•Full-face helmets significantly reduce facial fracture.•Full-face helmets reduce severity of head, neck, and facial injury.