Study of Pattern of Injuries in Victims of Fatal Road Trafic Accidents in Nepal

During one year study period medico-legal autopsies were conducted on 150 cases of fatal road traffic accident (RTA) victims at the mortuary of B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. Among age group 21–30 years, highest number (29.3%) of road traffic fatalities occurs. Male accounted for 76.7% of RTA deaths, with over three fourth that of female. About 3/4^th of the fatal accidents took place on highways (74.7%) followed by on city road (12%). Nearly half of the victims (45.3%) came from rural areas. Majority of the victims were pedestrians (39.3%) followed by motorcyclists (26.7%). Among the victims in whom impact injuries could be identified at autopsy 61.3% of victims sustained secondary injuries followed by secondary impact injuries 58.7%. In majority of the cases, the site of initial impact of the responsible vehicle was frontal (31.3%) followed by rear (28%) and side (18.7%). Lower extremities were mostly crushed (17 or 11.3%) followed by head & neck (12 or 8%). 77.3% victims had sustained fractures followed by abrasions 73.3% and contusion 64%. In the majority of the cases, brain 32.7% was injured followed by liver and lungs, 28.7% and 27.3% respectively. Skull was found fractured in 44% of the cases followed by fractures of thoracic bones 40%. Considering areas or parts of body injured far over majority (62%) of the cases sustained head and neck injuries followed by injuries to the lower extremities (54.7%). Spot death occurred in maximum of the victims (53 or 35.5%).