Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Associate Professor Patricia Stoor, University of Helsinki, Finland
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Jørgen Isaksen, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Peter Piotr Majak, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Morten Carstens Moe, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Jon Ramm-Pettersen, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
There is a clear association between facial fractures, head injuries and cervical spine injuries, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to trauma care. Traditional bicycle helmets provide protection for the face, particularly the midface, but do not protect the mandible.
In the PhD thesis Bicycle-related facial fractures, Pål Galteland and colleagues examined data from the Trauma Registry at Oslo University Hospital, including 1543 severely injured bicyclists admitted between 2005 and 2016. Facial fractures were present in 339 patients (22%) of all severely injured cyclists. These fractures were more likely among older patients and were strongly linked to head injuries. Cyclists with more severe head injuries were at a higher risk of facial fractures, particularly in the midface, such as the orbit, maxilla, and zygoma. Severe head injuries also increased the likelihood of surgical treatment for orbital fractures.
Helmet use was found to reduce the risk of facial fractures by 35%. Helmets were particularly effective in protecting the midface but did not significantly reduce the risk of mandibular fractures. The limited protection for the mandible suggests a need for improvements in helmet design.
The findings emphasize the importance of viewing the head and face as an interconnective unit in high-energy accidents. Severe facial fractures often coincide with head and cervical spine injuries, necessitating a multidisciplinary team approach including maxillofacial- and neurosurgical expertise. This research provides valuable insights into injury prevention and management, reinforcing the protective role of helmets while highlighting areas for innovation in design and treatment strategies.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.