ABSTRACT
Head injuries are a major cause of mortality or disability among the youth of the nation. This study was conducted to determine the causes of head injuries in Karachi and its implications on individuals. Prospective observational Study. This study was performed at the Emergency department of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre [JPMC], Karachi from January 2013 to December 2013. The study included 1,59,600 cases of head injury [expired or alive] brought to the emergency department of JPMC. Major Head injuries accounted for 42% of the total injury cases. Majority of the head injury cases belonged to the male segment of the society [73%] with ages ranging from 20 years - 39 years [54%]. The leading cause of head injury was found to be Road traffic accidents [RTA] [43%]. While analysing the outcomes of head injuries, it was found that the death rate for head injuries was 40%. This encompasses the patients that expired during or after treatment as well as the dead brought to the hospital. The mortality rate due to head injuries is escalating day by day. Road traffic accidents account for majority of these cases. Steps need to be taken to control fatal head injuries by adopting effective preventive measures like traffic control and management, rapid response to accidents, effective and efficient handling of cases in hospital emergencies
ABSTRACT
Despite being a serious hazard the causal factors and outcomes of burn injuries in Karachi remain an under researched area. The purpose of our study was to analyse the epidemiology and mortality of burn injury cases in Karachi in order to create awareness at mass level. Prospective Observational Study. This study was carried out from October 30[th], 2013 to April 30[th], 2014 in the Burns Centre, Civil Hospital Karachi. The study encompassed all the burn injury cases [expired or alive] reported to the Civil Hospital during the six months of the study period. The demographic information, cause and level of injury of all the reported cases were documented. 784 cases of thermal injuries were reported. Out of these, 441[56.25%] were males and 343[43.75%] were females. Most of the burn victims [60%] belonged to the age group of 15 - 44 years. Out of 784 cases, 565 cases [72%] were of serious dermo-epidermal and deep burns. The overall burn mortality rate was found to be 55.9%. This included burn victims who were brought dead or expired during treatment. Maximum burns were a result of fire/flame [48.1%]. The mortality rate of burn injuries in Karachi is alarming as compared to the international statistics. Fire incidents are the main cause of these injuries. Fatal burns can be prevented if necessary precautions are taken