Assessment of Profile of Fatal Thoracic Injuries in Road Side Accidents Victims

Road Traffic Accident is like an endemic disease, which affects mainly young people. The present study was conducted to assess profile of fatal thoracic injuries in road side accidents victims.

The present study was conducted in the department of Forensic medicine. It comprised of 104 road side accident victims of both genders. Data such as name, age, gender, type of victim, season, pattern of external thoracic injuries and associated injuries were recorded.

Age group 10–20 years had 7, 20–40 years had 40–60 years and 32 and >60 years had 20 cases. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Maximum cases were seen in winter (42) followed by summer (28), rainy (22) and autumn (12). The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Maximum victims were pedestrian seen in 76, cyclist in 5, motor cyclists in 15, car in 6 and unknown in 2. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Pattern on external thoracic injury was contusion in 58, abrasion in 32, laceration in 10 and incised wound in 4 cases. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Lung was involved in 72, heart in 12, great vessels in 8 and normal in 12 cases. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).

The most common age group was 20–40 years and maximum cases were seen in winter followed by summer. Maximum pattern on external thoracic injury was contusion.