Patterns of Injuries in Road Traffic Accidents: An Autopsy Study

Road traffic accidents are the major causes of death worldwide. The present study was carried out on 125 victims of road traffic accidents and died due to various types of injuries on body. To find out patterns of injuries and cause of death of victims of road traffic accident, their age and sex distribution and site distribution of different types of injuries along with fractures and relevant data are noted down. The highest incidence was seen in age group 21-30yrs and males are commonest victim with male to female ratio 5.5:1. In the present study, most of the accidents and deaths irrespective of the cause occurred between 12.01 to 18.00 hours. The maximum numbers of victims were declared dead at hospital 82 cases (65.6%). The pedestrians were the commonest group of victims 65 (52%) and motorcycle the commonest offending vehicle 47 cases (37.6%). Haemorrhagic shock due to poly-trauma was the commonest cause of death 45 (36%), involving abdominal organ laceration 78 (62.4%) commonest and laceration to liver was most commonly observed 34 (27.2%).