Post – mortem examination and CT scan findings of fatalhead injury cases -A comparative study

Nowadays CT scan is done in most head injury cases. The patients who do not survive are subjected to further investigations in the form of post-mortem examination. In most cases a correlation can be shown between the reported CT scan findings and post-mortem findings. However, in few cases the lesion may be misdiagnosed or remain undiagnosed by CT scan examination.

• Comparison of ante–mortem CT scan findings with post–mortem autopsy findings.

• To compare our present study data with other studies.

The study was conducted with 255 cases of fatal head injury registered in Post–Mortem Register and autopsied at Forensic Medicine and Toxicology department, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry. The details likes scalp injuries, type of skull fracture, brain injury and intracranial Haemorrhage were recorded. Evaluation was done for the cases available with CT scan findings.

Most common type of scalp injury was Contusion occurred in 35.7%, Skull fracture was fissured type fracture (17.6%), Intra Cranial haemorrhage was combination of SAH-SDH (35.7%). When compared to post mortem examination, 21.7% of skull fracture, 33.3% of brain injury and 14.3% of intracranial haemorrhages were remained undiagnosed by CT scan.

Head injury leads to early death in head injury cases. The major cause of head injury was found to be accidental in nature. The study is concluded that there is a need to create awareness among the public and for early intervention by clinicians regarding the Fatal Head injuries.