ABSTRACT
Traffic accidents have become one of the leading causes of death in recent times. Out of all types of accidents confronting the mankind, traffic accidents claim a major share and the morbidity and mortality due to these is progressively on increase. On a general analysis, several factors seem to be responsible for causing these accidents on the roads including errors on the part of the drivers of the vehicles, the pedestrians or victims, lack of proper traffic system, mechanical defects or failures in the vehicles, bad condition of the roads, overcrowding and encroachment of the main roads or junctions and poor visibility on the pathways. The present study is aimed to assess the magnitude of the problem in northern part of the state. Methods: The present work was carried out categorising subjects into two groups. The first group was of those victims bought directly to the mortuary from the site of accident and the second group of those victims who succumbed due to injuries received in the accident in course of treatment in the hospital and later brought to mortuary for autopsy. A case-sheet was prepared for each individual case and all information as per the proforma were noted in it. Results: In the present series, a study of 75 cases of traffic accidents have been made. These cases accounted for 23.43% of total medicolegal autopsies conducted in the department during the period. This figure indicated that fatal traffic accidents have a considerable share among all unnatural deaths. Conclusion: The present study revealed that traffic accidents take a heavy toll of human lives in this region. Being preventable this should be given due consideration by public health authorities, all the members of medical profession, road safety authorities, legislators and other concerned persons. All the safety measures to prevent these should be evaluated from time to time so that the problems could be highlighted and newer methods employed for safe guarding majority of the population at risk from falling prey of these.
ABSTRACT
In highly decomposed and mutilated dead body remains dentures are frequently sent for the medicolegal examination by the forensic experts for identification. Dental tissues like bones resist putrefaction for much more longer period and these are in many cases available for examination due to its tough texture and ability to escape destruction. Methods: The present prospective study was done on 450 subjects (225 males and 225 females) of known age and sex, from different socio-economic strata and religion belonging to north region of Bihar state. Their age ranges vary from 14-73 years. The mandibular and maxillary canines of both sides were measured in both sexes. Various dimensions namely, mandibular and maxillary canine crown width, crown length and canine separation width were taken in each case with the help of dividers and vernier calipers with a resolution of 0.1mm. Results: In the present study, regarding mandibular canines in males, crown length showed the maximum accuracy (92.0%) of sex identity in the age group (E) 54-63 years and canine separation width showed the minimum accuracy of 40% in the age group (D) 44-53 years. In females, crown width showed the maximum accuracy of 83.33% in the age group (D) 44-53 years and minimum accuracy of 30% by crown length in the age group (F) 64-73 years. Regarding the maxillary canines, in males, the crown length showed the maximum accuracy (90%) of sex identity in the age group (D) 44-53 years and the minimum accuracy of 44% in the age group (A) 14-23 years. In females, both crown width and crown length showed the maximum accuracy of 96.66% in the age group (D) 44-53 years and minimum accuracy of 22% by crown width in the age group (B) 24-33 years. Conclusion: The present study revealed this method could be useful as a reliable tool for sex identity when use of other methods are not possible or there is no definite features indicating the sex as in cases when parts of decomposed and skeletonised dead bodies are recovered after a mass disaster or exhumation and also in cases when smaller fragmented part of the body is only available for examination.