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DOI: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.11418.5

Abstract

  Background: Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) is increasing globally and India is no exception to it. RTA affects young males commonly. Head injury was the most common site to be injured in RTAs. Road traffic accident is a preventable cause of death. Objective was to determine the pattern and distribution of head injuries in victims of fatal road traffic accidents in a rural tertiary care centre. Material and Methods: Retrospective record based study in rural tertiary care centre among 345 head injury subjects for the duration of 5 years was carried out. Data was analysed using SPSS 17 version software. Chi-square test was the test of significance for qualitative data. p value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: 260 subjects (75.4%) were males and 85 subjects (24.6%) were females. Majority of subjects were in the age group 31 to 40 years (28.11%), followed by 21 to 30 years (19.13%). 42.61% had Frontal injury, 24.64% had parietal injury, 18.84% had temporal injury and 13.91% had occipital injury. Contusion was seen in 38.55%, Abrasion was seen in 31.01% and Lacerations of the scalp were seen in 30.43% cases. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents in India are on rise and deaths due to head injuries are also increasing proportionately. Males and Middle age persons are dying in RTA due to head injury. This can bear a irreparable damage to the family and its members. Most of the head injuries in the study were found to be fatal.

Keywords: Head Injuries; Road Traffic Accidents; Intracranial Hemorrhage; Contusion of Brain.

Corresponding Author : Shreedhara K.C., Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Chamarajanagar, Yadapura, Karnataka 571313, India