1Department of Forensic Medicine, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan
2Department of Forensic Medicine, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan
3Department of Forensic Medicine, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore-560070, Karnataka State, India
Online published on 28 February, 2012.
During this study period 900 cases were brought for post mortem examination out of which 200 (22.22%) deaths were due to road traffic accidents. Out of 200 Road Traffic accident deaths, 60 (30%) cases were with abdomen injuries. The maximum cases of road traffic accidents with abdominal injuries were seen in the age group of 21–30 years (25%), followed by 31–40 years (21.66%). Males (52 cases) outnumbered females (8 cases) and male - female ratio is approximately 6.5:1, The maximum number of road traffic accident deaths with abdominal were occurred during night times 26 (43.33%) cases and least cases were recorded during morning time 8 (13.3%) cases. The maximum number of victims were pedestrians 31 (51.7%) cases, followed by motor cyclist in 24 (40%) cases and the least were occupant of light motor vehicle and the most common offending vehicle is Heavy Motor Vehicles in 27 cases (45%), followed by motor cycle in 12 cases (20%). In the 60 cases of road traffic accidents with abdominal injuries it was found that 10 (16.7%) cases are spot death, 4 (6.6%) cases were brought dead to hospital and 46 (76.7%) cases were succumbed to their injuries after some duration of hospital stay. The pattern of external injuries over abdomen i.e., abrasions were present in 27 cases, contusions in 29 cases, lacerations in 16 cases, no external injuries over abdomen in 15 cases. Liver was the common organ involved in majority of victims i.e., 28 (46.7%) cases, followed by spleen in 15 (25%) cases and kidneys in 10 (16.7%) cases. Lumbar spinal column injury was present in 3 (5%) cases. Injury to two intra-abdominal organs were present in 28 cases (46.6%), followed by one organ injury in 14 cases (23.3%) and injury to abdomen alone was found in 12 cases (20%). Associated injuries to two and more than two body regions (head, chest and limbs) were found in majority of cases (50%). The main cause of death was haemorrhagic shock in 31 cases (51.66%) followed by combined effect of head injury and haemorrhagic shock in 26 cases (43.33%).
Unnatural deaths, Road traffic accidents, Abdominal injuries
