Patterns of Head Injuries in Road Traffic Accidents Involving Two wheelers: An Autopsy Study

Road traffic accidents (RTA) have been the bane of the modern civilization accounting for considerable loss to the nation. Head injuries are leading causes of death from motorcycle crashes with many deaths occurring despite optimal use of the available treatment facilities. Hence the present study was conducted to know the patterns of head injuries in fatal accidents involving riders and pillion riders of two wheelers. This study was conducted from 1^st April 2009 to 30^th Sept 2010 at Victoria Hospital Mortuary, Bangalore. The present study entirely focuses on the patterns of head injuries in fatal accidents involving riders and pillion riders of two wheelers who were autopsied during this period.

A total of 245 cases of deaths due to two wheeler accidents were reported for the autopsy. Riders constituted (76.33%) and pillion riders (23.67%). Most victims were male (87.75%), skull fractures (67.75%) were observed in the two wheeler accidental death. Linear fracture (55.43%) was the commonest pattern of fracture observed in these accidents. Sub-dural haemorrhage was also the commonest intracranial haemorrhage and rib injuries were commonly associated with head injuries.