Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major global health concern, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Head injuries, particularly fatal ones, are a critical outcome of RTAs, necessitating detailed analysis to inform preventive strategies and improve trauma care protocols. Objective: This study aims to analyse fatal head injuries resulting from RTAs, focusing on demographic characteristics, types of injuries, causes of death, and circumstances of these incidents. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GMCH Purnea, Bihar, covering the period from January 2023 to December 2023. The study included confirmed cases of fatal head injuries from RTAs with complete records. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and chi-square tests to identify significant associations. Results: Out of 247 cases, 85.4% were males and 14.6% were females. The 21-30 years age group was most affected (36.4%), followed by 41-50 years (18.2%) and 11-20 years (15.8%). Motorcyclists were the most common victims (46.6%), followed by pedestrians (14.2%). Most fatalities occurred at the accident scene (68.43%). The majority of skull fractures were comminuted (38.85%), with fissure + depressed fractures being significant (29.14%). The anterior cranial fossa (ACF) was the most commonly affected skull region (57.09%). Intracerebral haemorrhage (34.85%) and extradural haemorrhage (21.66%) were the most prevalent types of intracranial haemorrhage. Contusions (25.71%) and lacerations (37.14%) were common internal brain injuries. Conclusion: Fatal head injuries from RTAs predominantly affect young adult males, with motorcyclists being particularly vulnerable. Immediate fatalities at the scene highlight the need for prompt emergency response. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted road safety measures, public awareness campaigns, and improved trauma care systems to reduce the incidence of fatal head injuries in RTAs.

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