%0 Observational Study
%T High-power motorcycle accidents in Spain: a descriptive study.
%A Díez-Navarro JM
%A Leal-Costa C
%A Planes-Muñoz D
%A Suárez-Cortés M
%A Castaño-Molina MLÁ
%A Molina-Rodríguez A
%A Díaz-Agea JL
%J Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg
%V 50
%N 2
%D 2024 Apr 12
%M 37698643
%F 2.374
%R 10.1007/s00068-023-02363-0
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>In modern societies, motorcycle accidents have become a great problem for health systems worldwide. In Spain, the size and the power of the engine of 2-wheel vehicles determine the type of driving license and the age at which these vehicles can be used (mopeds and motorcycles, which at the same time can have a small or large engine capacity). The objective of the present study was to analyze and characterize low- and high-power motorcycle accidents in Spain, between 2014 and 2020, both included and compared these categories with each other.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Retrospective, descriptive, and observational study of motorcycle and moped accidents in Spain between 2014 and 2020, both included.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The mortality of motorcycle accident riders in Spain is associated with males aged between 30 and 40 years old, with a high-power motorcycle, and an A or A1 driver's license, who is 6.7 times more likely to die in crossings and highways than a moped, while wearing a helmet, and if not, this increases to 4.89 times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in death at 24 h after a high-power motorcycle accident was observed, as compared with a large reduction in the total medical assistance provided in 2019-2020.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>High-power motorcycles had higher scores in mortality and morbity rates than low-power ones, with a significant increase in mortality during the pandemic, even though number of accidents and medical assistance provided were drastically reduced.