An autopsy study of thoraco-abdominal injuries in road traffic accidents

Introduction, Material and Methods:The present one year study was undertaken with an aim to study the pattern of thoraco-abdominal injuries in cases of fatal road traffic accidents, relationship between type of vehicle and the pattern of thoraco-abdominal injuries, age and sex related mortality in a tertiary care institute situated in rural background of Haryana.

Results:76.13 % of deaths were due to thoraco-abdominal injuries. The most common age group involved was 21–30 years in 20 cases (29.8%), followed by 31–40 years in 16 cases (23.8%) and 11–20 years in llcases (16.4%). Males out numbered females in the ratio of 15.75: 1. The maximum incidence of accidents amounting to 52.23% were on national and state highways. The pedestrians were the commonest group of victims involved in fatal road accidents comprising 28.35% of total cases followed by occupants of cars and jeeps (25.38%) and motorcyclists (22.38%).The commonest involved vehicle were two wheelers i.e. bikes and scooters (52.23 %). No victim received any kind of treatment or first aid at the site of accidents. Out of all cases taken for study, 40.29 % of cases died on the spot, while 59.71% of cases could only manage to reach the hospital. Maximum number of deaths occurred within 24 hours that is 58 cases out of 67 cases (86.54%).Multiple injuries were observed in all cases. External injuries to thorax were more frequent than internal injuries, but in abdomen, internal injuries were more frequent than external injuries. The fatal injury to thorax was predominant among all road users in 37 cases (55.22%) followed by abdomen injuries in 19 cases (28.35)% and thoraco-abdominal injuries (16.41%). The most common single organ involved was liver accounting for 34 cases followed by lungs in 27 cases, kidneys in 12 cases, spleen in 11 cases, heart in 4 cases, left diaphragmatic rupture, intestine, and mesentery in 4 cases each and aortic injury, urinary bladder rupture and testicular hematoma in 2 cases each respectively. Conclusions:Provision of inbuilt safety measures in manufacturing of vehicles, better first aid facilities on highways and most important which is still lacking in our society is the awareness among general public will help in reducing such incidences.