DOCTOR'S VIEW ARCHIVE
Liver Injury from Mountain Biking
As mountain biking has grown in popularity, so have injuries from the
sport. Head injuries are relatively common and are responsible for
most of the fatalities in mountain bikers. It now seems the head is
not alone in its vulnerability.
An increase in liver trauma has now been discovered due to mountain
biking. Of 52 patients admitted to the trauma service at the
University Hospital of Innsbruck, Austria between 1995 and 1997 with
injuries from riding mountain bikes, 8 were found to have had a bleed
around the liver. In every case, the handlebars had been driven into
the right upper part of the abdomen, right where the liver is located.
The cyclists with liver injuries all had abdominal pain and
tenderness in the right upper-quadrant of the abdomen. The largest
bleed around the liver had an diameter of 18 cm (7 inches). The
liver injuries were managed conservatively with an initial stay in
intensive care and then gradual mobilization. All resolved completely
after an observation period of 3 months.
These findings were reported by Drs. H Nehoda and B W Hochleitner in
the January 31 issue of the medical journal The Lancet in a
communication entitled "Subcapsular liver haematomas caused by bar
ends in mountain-bike crashes" (Lancet volume 351, page 342, 1998).
All of the mountain bikers with liver injuries had fitted their
bicycle handles with bar ends, grip attachments to assist in
climbing. Judging from the skin marks, it was apparent that the
unfortunate cyclists had fallen on their bar ends.
The bar ends should be forward-inclined and foam covered, recommend
the Austrian researchers, and we should "watch out carefully for
liver injuries caused by mountain-bike accidents."
Last Editorial Review: 12/31/1997
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