Mamil mania? Lockdown trend sees rise in cycling injuries

Sydney orthopods are reporting a uptick in bicycle-related trauma as more people take up the hobby

Orthopaedic surgeons say they’ve been kept busy with bicycle injuries during COVID-19 as more people took up the activity.

The findings come from a retrospective analysis of trauma cases at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital between 16 March and 21 April – after travel, social and workplace restrictions commenced.

The analysis confirmed orthopeadic surgeons’ suspicions that trauma cases had decreased overall, with a 16% drop in emergency procedures compared with the same time last year (146 versus 173).

Plus a 31% drop in orthopaedic admissions (135 versus 159 patients), according to the study in the ANZ Journal of Surgery.