1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Government Villupuram Medical College & Hospital, Tamilnadu
2Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pondicherry
*Corresponding author: Dhritiman Nath Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pondicherry Email: dhritimannath06@gmail.com, Ph No: 8903733042/9047333041
Online published on 16 August, 2018.
To study the epidemiological distribution of fatal head injuries due to road traffic accidents (RTA) brought for autopsy to a tertiary-level hospital in Pondicherry in between September 2011 to August 2013.
This study was conducted in Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital, Pondicherry from 1st September, 2011 to 31st March, 2013. Only fatal head injury cases due to RTA was taken up for the study. Bodies in advanced stages of decomposition, head injuries due to suicide or homicide, cases where the history of occurrence is ambiguous, intracranial haemorrhages, infarction or lesions due to natural diseases were excluded from the study.
A total of 165 cases were taken up for the study. Male victims constituted 131 cases (79.39%) and females 34 (20.6%). A greater number of victims were pedestrians (94 cases or 56.96% of all cases). Majority of incidences (79 cases or 47.87%) took place on the highways. Young people in the age group of 21 to 30 years were the worst affected (34 cases or 20.61%). Majority of cases (63 cases 38.18%) occurred in the winter season between October to January. Bruise on scalp was the most common injury presented (75 cases 45.45%). Among the internal injuries of the head, sub arachnoid haemorrhage accounted for 107 cases or 64.8% of all cases. Most of the victims died on the spot (61 cases or 36.96%). A greater number of incidences (29 cases or 17.57%) occurred in between 5 PM-8 PM. More than half of the victims (115 or 69.69%) were from rural areas. Most of the victims (63 cases or 38.18%) were unskilled workers like daily wage workers.
RTA, presently, have assumed an epidemic proportion, especially in developing countries, with increased morbidity and mortality and associated colossal economic losses. Effective steps to cut down on its incidences is the need of the hour. With a view to achieve this objective, WHO recommends a multidisciplinary approach to road safety, enforcement of strict legislations, use of helmets, child restraints and seat belts, safe speed limits and establishment of trauma care facilities in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare centres.
Head injury, road accident, fatal
