An Epidemiological Study of Deaths Due to Injuries in Head and Neck Region in Eastern India

Background: Head and neck injury is a major public health problem in developing countries like India. Its incidence has increased in recent and thus increased even its mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological profile of fatal mechanical injury in head and neck region causing death in eastern India.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Department of Forensic Medicine, in Eastern India with history of injury cases particularly in head and neck region due to Road Traffic Accident from 2013 to 2014. All collected data was analyzed in all possible aspects, to identify risk factors, manner of death and other epidemiological factors etc.

Results: During the study period a total 1518 medico legal autopsies were conducted, amongst them head and neck injury were 104 (6.85%).Male, female sex ratio is 5.5:1 and victims from age group 31–40 years were maximum (22.11%). Most commonly cases were from the month of July to October (Monsoon) – 40.38% cases. All collected data was analyzed in Microsoft office excels, after taking complete history and meticulous post mortem examination.

Conclusion: Prevention of head and neck injury should be the aim and this can be achieved by improving the real socioeconomic condition of common people, education of mass, providing more safety measures in this rapidly progressing and changing lifestyle of society and the extension of support to the judiciaries by better submission of evidences as an expert to avoid miscarriage of justice.