Alfred Health News
Assaulted nuts and other bits and pieces
Damage to the "family jewels" can be devastating for a man comparedto other injuries caused by motorcycle accidents and can go unnoticed despiteits devastating consequences.
Trauma specialists at The Alfred say, protective clothing assimple as a full body jacket made from leather or high quality syntheticmaterials, could be enough to prevent permanent damage.
In 2009, almost 400 motorbike riders were admitted to TheAlfred with life threatening injuries.
Director of The Alfred's Emergency and Trauma Centre, Dr DeVilliers Smit said without proper protection to the groin, motorcyclists are atrisk of sustaining injuries such as lacerations to the scrotum, contusions tothe testis and in extreme cases, amputation of the genitalia.
"Motorcyclists account for almost a third of all major roadtraumas treated at The Alfred and the injuries sustained are often horrific becausemotorbikes don't have the protective elements such as airbags and seatbeltsthat motorcars have.
"Motorcyclists need to understand the role protectiveclothing can play in shielding areas of the body that are at risk ofirreversible damage.
"Full protective gear might help minimise some injuries,especially to the groin, and ensure a more speedy recovery by keeping woundsclean and I speak for all males who would rather avoid unnecessary surgery tothe crown jewels," De Villiers said.