Traumatic injury associated with motorcycle incidents in Latin America: a systematic literature review.

PURPOSE: In recent decades, Latin America has experienced a notable increase in trauma due to motorcycle traffic incidents. Improvements to road safety and the care of motorcycle incident victims have been adversely affected by infrastructural and socioeconomical challenges throughout the region. This systematic review aims to investigate the existing literature on traumatic injuries from motorcycle collisions in Latin American countries to better understand and address the impact of these incidents on the region.

METHODS

This study was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Article searches were performed using the Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases with a predetermined search strategy. Gray literature was identified through several simple searches of the SCIELO database. Articles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese were included. Using Covidence, seven independent reviewers separately completed 2 rounds of article screening. Each of the final included articles was reviewed for extraction and consensus by 3 reviewers.

RESULTS

Of the 675 initially identified, a total of 37 articles met the criteria for inclusion and were selected for final data extraction after full-text screen. The regional representation was limited to 4 Latin American countries [Argentina (n = 1), Brazil (n = 33), Guatemala (n = 1), and Mexico (n = 2)]. Predominantly, the studies focused on the prevalence of motorcycle incidents (n = 34), with limited studies reporting on the treatment (n = 13) or outcomes (n = 8) of motorcycle incident victims. Surgical intervention was the most commonly noted treatment (n = 9) with reporting on fixation methods (n = 4), wound management (n = 2), flap coverage procedures (n = 1), fasciotomy (n = 1), and implant use (n = 1). Complications were the most commonly reported outcome (n = 4), of which injury sequelae/residual pain, mortality, infection, vascular damage, mental health effects, amputation, and hospital readmission were discussed.

CONCLUSION

Despite the overwhelming perception among surgeons on the burden of motorcycle incidents in Latin America, this systematic review demonstrates a paucity of research evaluating the consequences of musculoskeletal trauma from these incidents in the region. In identifying these gaps, additional research initiatives can be directed toward better understanding the ramifications of these injuries, ranging from direct patient care to regional policy development.