Autopsy analysis of craniocerebral injuries at a tertiary healthcare centre

Brain is one of the most vital organs in the body, despite it being protected by bony skull. Craniocerebral injury or head injury is defined by National Advisory Neurological Disease and Stroke Council as a “morbid state resulting from gross or subtle structural changes in the scalp, skull and or the contents of the skull produced by mechanical forces”.1 A prospective study was conducted in the department of forensic medicine at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital Nagpur, a tertiary care centre for a period of two years. During the period of study, a total of 2048 cases of medicolegal autopsy were evaluated. Out of the total medicolegal autopsy cases a total of 202 cases of death due to craniocerebral injuries were included in the present study. Consumption of alcohol is a common causation for road traffic accidents and subsequent craniocerebral injuries. Study of various aspects of head injury helps in better understanding of such cases.