Obesity and age as factors in lethal leg amputation following motorcycle crashes

The autopsy files at Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA) were searched from January 2008 to December 2018 for all cases of motorcycle fatalities with a lower limb amputation. Six cases were identified; five male riders and one female pillion passenger, with age ranging from 48 to 67 years (average 59 years), significantly older than the control group (40.6 years; p<0.01). All decedents were overweight with body mass indices (BMI) of 28.7-43.5, average 34.9, significantly greater than the control group (28.8; p<0.05). This study has shown that older motorcycle riders with higher BMIs are at greatest risk of lower limb/pelvis amputations.