Story by BRIAN VICTOROFF

I AM AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON at a major urban trauma center. I’ m also a motorcyclist. I see the contradiction here, but am I irresponsible or in denial? How can I justify the risk? On many occasions in my professional life, I have encountered motorcyclists who have sustained limb- threatening injuries or worse.

One memorable case occurred while I was in training in Washington, D. C. A young woman was struck by a car on her motorcycle and then dragged through the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Upon her arrival at our trauma center, we evaluated her leg, which had been injured so severely it was considered not salvageable and an amputation would be necessary. Amputate we did, through the knee joint. I encountered the same patient several weeks later at our outpatient clinic where she was being fitted for a prosthesis. What was most striking was that she had by then recovered emotionally, with an astonishingly gracious acceptance of her injury.

Not all motorcycle trauma victims fare as well. So considering the inherent risk, why would an orthopaedic doctor continue to ride motorcycles? The question begs for an explanation.

A characteristic highenergy fracture from a motorcycle crash.

Surgeons, like air traffic controllers, airline pilots, and nuclear power plant engineers, accept risk as part of our daily lives. While the statistical probability of an accident may be low, the stakes are extraordinarily high. We all take risks in many areas of our lives. Swimming in the ocean, crossing the street, or accepting a hot cup of coffee at the drive- through window at McDonald’ s. For some, these risks are unacceptable. For motorcyclists, it seems to be a different story.

Much has been written about the inherent psychologic rewards of motorcycling, including stress reduction, a sense of freedom and empowerment, and the benefits of intense focus and the experience of the flow state. Less is said about the potential rewards of the acceptance of inherent risk. The strange contradiction of this exists in the risk / benefit calculation for motorcycling, wherein the risk may be much higher than the potential benefit.

However, we must then introduce an emotional fudge factor, the irrational element, added unconsciously into the calculation, which allows us to accept the risk and justify the action. Of course, it is when we fail to acknowledge risk that we become a danger to ourselves and to others.

Ultimately, taking on calculated risks is inherently fulfilling, in surgery and in life. The mental process we use to accept risk in surgery is remarkably similar to what we do when we embrace the risks of riding a motorcycle. The process of welcoming and mitigating risk is so satisfying as it creates an illusion of mastery of one’ s environment. We all did this as kids, when we stampeded towards the merry- go- round on the playground despite knowing about that kid who broke his arm. We found these so much more satisfying than the excessively padded ultrasafe playgrounds of today.

In adulthood as well, we continue to crave calculated risk and novelty. Consider for example, an intimidating roller coaster. While waiting in line we may have palpable anxiety, but after the ride the fear is replaced by dopamine- mediated satisfaction that motivates us to run back in line for yet another ride. Every ride on a motorcycle is a novel experience. When we ride, we calculate the risks: Is that gravel? Will there be a deer this time? Will that car turn in front of me? The more we ride, the more we hone our ability to focus and the more we enjoy the sense of mastery. We engage our mind or we become stagnant.

So with surgery, and life in general, it is the sense of mastery of the environment and the illusion of control that afford us the psychologic satisfaction of accepting the inherent risks of motorcycling, in spite of what we know.

Dr. Victoroff got his first motorcycle, a 1975 Honda CB125, at 16 and has been riding and collecting vintage and modern bikes ever since. He currently rides a BMW F900R. After a 34- year career in orthopedic surgery, he recently retired to make more time for riding.

10 / OCTOBER 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM