Characteristics of injuries resulting from falls from height in the construction industry

INTRODUCTION@#Falls from heights contribute to 34% of fatal accidents in Singapore. Of these, 51% of the accidents occur in the construction industry. This retrospective review, of all persons falling from heights in the construction industry from 2006 to 2012 and attending a major hospital, analysed injury patterns and related them to mechanisms and contributory factors.@*METHODS@#Information collected included injury and casualty characteristics, safety measures, pre-existing medical conditions and clinical outcomes.@*RESULTS@#Of 1,085 patients, 951 were male with a mean age of 39.8 years, mean height of 165.9 cm and mean weight of 69.7 kg. Most of the casualties fell between 0800 and 2000 hours. Among the severely injured patients, 2.4% had head injuries, 54.9% had chest injuries and 39.2% had abdominal and pelvic injuries. For these casualties, the mortality rate was 60.8%. For patients with less than major trauma, the commonest injuries were in the lower limbs (41.8%), upper limbs (40.8%) and spine (22.2%). All the casualties survived. Falls from scaffolding, formwork and platforms were the most common causes of severe injuries (41.1%). Safety helmets and harnesses were reported to be used in 1.8% and 4.1% of instances of falls, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Studying the patterns of injuries following falls at construction sites has the potential for injury prevention through safe practices, use of safety equipment and targeted training.

Parameterized Analysis of Craniocerebral Injury Caused by Fist / 法医学杂志

Objective Based on the theory of biomechanics, the finite element method was used to study the injury characteristics of different parts of brain hit by fist with different force and to predict the risk of craniocerebral injury, in order to provide reference for actual medical protection and forensic identification. Methods The finite element model of fist was constructed by using DICOM data modeling method and related software, and the effective mass and speed of fist were used to represent the kinetic energy of fist, and combined with human finite element model THUMS 4.02, the characteristics of craniocerebral injury caused by frontal and lateral blows were parametrically simulated. Results The probability of direct death from a blow to the head was low, but as fist power increased, so did the risk of craniocerebral injury. The characteristics of craniocerebral injury were also significantly different with the different fist hitting head locations. When the frontal area was attacked, the maximum equivalent stress of skull was 122.40 MPa, while that of brain tissue was 4.31 kPa. When the temporal area was attacked, the maximum equivalent stress of skull was 71.53 MPa, while that of brain tissue was 7.09 kPa. Conclusion The characteristics and risks of skull fracture and brain tissue injury are different when different parts of the brain are hit by fist. When the frontal area is hit, the risk of skull fracture is significantly higher than when the temporal area is hit. The risk of brain tissue injury is the opposite. The position with the highest probability of skull fracture is generally the place where the skull is directly impacted, and with the conduction of stress waves, it will spread to other parts of the skull, while the position with the highest risk of brain tissue injury is not the place where the brain is directly impacted.

Traumatic chiasmal syndrome. Case report / Síndrome quiasmática traumática. Relato de caso

ABSTRACT Traumatic chiasmal syndrome is one of the rare etiologies of chiasmal syndrome, characterized by optic chiasm injury following head trauma. The main visual defect associated is bitemporal hemianopia with macular splitting; however, it can present with a variety of other visual defects and neurologic signs. The authors report a case of complete bitemporal hemianopia after head trauma, with multiple frontal and skull base fractures and no other neurologic deficits, or hypothalamic-pituitary abnormality. Most cases of traumatic chiasmal syndrome are caused by mechanical stretch or compression of the chiasma. Nevertheless, in this case, the radiologic findings excluded macroscopic disruption or external compression of the chiasma, raising the possibility of a contusion necrosis associated with functional impairment of the optic chiasma. Traumatic chiasmal syndrome must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with complete bitemporal hemianopia after head injury caused by frontal and skull base fracture.

RESUMO A síndrome quiasmática traumática é uma das raras etiologias da síndrome do quiasma óptico, que se caracteriza pela presença de lesão do quiasma óptico causada por traumatismo craniencefálico. O principal defeito visual associado é a hemianopsia bitemporal com macular splitting. No entanto, pode se manifestar por uma variedade de outros defeitos visuais e sinais neurológicos. Os autores relatam um caso de hemianopsia bitemporal completa após traumatismo craniencefálico com múltiplas fraturas frontais e da base do crânio na ausência de outros défices neurológicos ou alterações do eixo hipotálamo-hipofisário. A maioria dos casos de síndrome quiasmática traumática é causada por estiramento mecânico ou compressão do quiasma. No entanto, no caso apresentado, os achados radiológicos excluíram lesão macroscópica ou compressiva do quiasma, levantando a possibilidade de uma necrose após contusão associada ao compromisso funcional do quiasma óptico. A síndrome quiasmática traumática deve ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial de doentes que apresentam hemianopsia bitemporal completa após traumatismo craniencefálico, especialmente em casos de fratura do osso frontal e da base do crânio.

Análise das características de indivíduos com sequelas de traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE) em um centro de referência em reabilitação (características de TCE) / Analysis of the characteristics of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a rehabilitation reference center (TBI characteristics)

INTRODUÇÃO: O Traumatismo Cranioencefálico (TCE)é definido como uma alteração na função encefálica, devido a uma causa externa, ou seja, algum trauma físico de origem externa e que leva à morbimortalidade e incapacidades em todo o mundo. OBJETIVO: Analisar as características (aspectos sociodemográficos, causa do TCE; custos com saúde) de indivíduos com sequelas de traumatismo cranioencefálico em um centro de referência em reabilitação. METODOLOGIA: Estudo de natureza descritiva,retrospectiva e quantitativa no período de janeiro de 2009 a dezembro de 2013, por meio de análise documental, resultando em uma amostra final de 88 prontuários analisados. Foram incluídos indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com idade igual ou superior a dois anos de vida. RESULTADOS: Dos indivíduos com sequelas de TCE, 86,36% eram do sexo masculino, com idade entre 18 e 59 anos (80,68%), apresentando ensino médio completo (26,14%), de cor parda (52,27%) e com renda familiar entre um e cinco salários mínimos (60,23%). A causa mais frequente de TCE foi o acidente motociclístico (68,18%). Não houve diferença estatística entre tipos de causa de TCE e custos com saúde. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo demonstrou que grande parte dos indivíduos eram homens jovens e vítimas de acidente motociclístico.(AU)

INTRODUCTION: traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a change in brain function due to an external cause, that is, some external physical trauma that leads to morbidity and mortality, disabilities and mortality worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics (Socio-demographic aspects; causes of TBI; Health costs) of individuals with traumatic brain injury sequelae in a referral center for rehabilitation. METHODOLOGY: descriptive, retrospective and quantitative study from January 2009 to December 2013, Through documentary analysis, resulting in a final sample of 88 analyzed medical records. Individuals of both sexes, aged 2 years or more, were included. RESULTS: Of the individuals with TBI sequelae, 86.36% were male, aged between 18 and 59 years (80.68%), with completed secondary education (26.14%), mulatto (52.27 %) and family income between 1 and 5 minimum wages (60.23%). The most frequent cause of TBI were motorcycle accidents (68.18%). There was no statistical difference between types of cause of TBI and health care costs. CONCLUSION: This study showed that most individuals were young men, motorcycle accident victims and who lost work capacity. (AU)

Head injury burden in a major referral hospital emergency centre in Botswana

Introduction:This study describes the demographics, aetiology, emergency centre diagnosis and severity indicators of patients with head injuries presenting to the largest referral hospital emergency centre in Botswana.Methods:Cross-sectional retrospective data was collected from July 2015 to September 2015 for all emergency centre head injury presentations at Princess Marina Hospital. Information was extracted from emergency centre records regarding patient demographics, mechanism of injury, clinical observations, diagnosis, and treatment.Results:Three-hundred and sixty head injury patients presented to the emergency centre in the three months, averaging four per day. 80% were less than 40 years of age and males accounted for 69% of all presentations. 58% of injuries were listed as being accidental, 39% recorded from assaults and 38% from road traffic accidents. The most common emergency centre clinical diagnosis was concussion and the most common radiological diagnosis skull fracture. The median Glasgow Coma Scale was 15 with a range from 3 to 15; and, among patients for whom Revised Trauma Score could be calculated, 79% scored the lowest probability of death in the Revised Trauma Score.Discussion:Head injury disproportionately overburdened males in this study, and head injury aetiology and demographic picture was similar to regional data. Severity scoring using the Glasgow Coma Scale was only available among 66% of patients and Revised Trauma Score calculable in half of presentations. Only 55% of head injury patients were discharged from the emergency centre, despite the preponderance of low severity scores. Head CTs appear to have been over-utilised and implementation of a Traumatic Head CT guideline for our setting is proposed. This study improves understanding of the burden of head injury in Botswana and advocates for national referral guidelines for patients with head injury in Botswana

Contribuição da autopsia médico-legal para a investigação do acidente de trabalho fatal: relato de caso / Contribution of medico-legal autopsy to the investigation of fatal occupational accidents: case report

Os acidentes de trabalho são um importante problema de saúde pública. Embora entendidos como eventos não intencionais, podem ser previsíveis e preveníveis. Os institutos médico-legais desempenham importante papel na investigação de acidentes de trabalho fatais (ATF), pois todos os casos de morte violenta ou suspeita devem ser submetidos à necropsia forense. Este trabalho é um relato de caso necroscópico de ATF em que os dados obtidos na necropsia poderão contribuir para a melhor compreensão da dinâmica do ocorrido. Tratava-se de indivíduo do sexo masculino, com 34 anos de idade e suspeita de ter sido vítima de queda em ambiente de trabalho. Havia equimoses avermelhadas e arroxeadas no tórax, nos membros superiores e na região occipital do periciado. Na epiderme dos dedos das mãos foram observadas lesões cutâneas endurecidas, com destacamento parcial, que apresentavam aspectos macro e microscópico característicos de passagem de corrente elétrica em vida. Evidenciou-se fratura de crânio nos ossos parietal esquerdo e occipital, hemorragia subaracnoidea difusa, além de petéquias laríngeas, subpleurais e subepicárdicas. A pesquisa de alcoolemia e o exame toxicológico foram negativos. A causa do óbito foi traumatismo cranioencefálico contuso, tendo sido observados no periciado indícios de contato com corrente elétrica em vida. A autopsia permitiu melhor entendimento do mecanismo de morte e eliminou a possibilidade do trabalhador estar sob efeito de substâncias psicoativas no momento da ocorrência. Isso pode ser importante para a determinação da sequência dos eventos, auxiliando na implantação de medidas de prevenção.

Work accidents are a major public health problem. Although they are understood to be unintentional events, they are both predictable and preventable. Medico-legal institutes play a key role in the investigation of fatal work-related accidents (FWRA) because all cases of violent or suspicious death must be subjected to forensic autopsy. The present is a report of a case of FWRA in which autopsy contributed to a better understanding of the event's dynamics. The case concerns a 34-year-old man believed to have suffered a fall at the workplace. Examination revealed reddish and purple bruises on the chest, upper limbs and the occipital area, and hardened, partially detached epidermal lesions on the fingers, with the characteristic macro- and microscopic appearance of passage of electric current while alive. Fractures on the left parietal and occipital bones were found, as well as diffuse traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and laryngeal, subpleural and subepicardial petechiae. Blood alcohol and toxicology tests were negative. The cause of death was blunt head trauma, with signs of contact with electric current while alive. The autopsy therefore allowed for a better understanding of the mechanism of death, and ruled out the possibility of the worker having been under the effect of psychoactive substances at the time of event. Autopsy might be relevant to determine the sequence of events, thus contributing to the implementation of preventive measures.

Differential Diagnosis between Neoplastic and Non-Neoplastic Brain Lesions in Radiology / Diagnóstico diferencial entre lesões cerebrais neoplásicas e não neoplásicas em radiologia

Introduction The observation of multiple lesions in a skull computed tomography (CT) scan is always cause for concern because of the frequent possibility of neoplastic etiology, although granulomatous, infectious, vascular, iatrogenic, demielinating, trauma, parasitic diseases, and strokes can produce a similar aspect on radiology. A wide range of non-neoplastic conditions can mimic a brain tumor, both clinically and radiologically, representing a potential pitfall for physicians involved in patient care. The study's goal is to alert specialists to the possibility of other neoplastic and nonneoplastic etiologies in the differential diagnosis of hypodense lesions in non-contrast. Methods We performed a literature review using PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, Embase, Clinical Trials, Ebsco, and Scielo. Articles were selected in the period of 1986 to 2015. Discussion Knowledge of various etiologies when with multiple lesions appear on computed tomography allows specialists to guide the diagnosis to appropriate treatment, avoiding the irradiation of non-neoplastic lesions and unnecessary surgeries. The most common lesions were the neoplasm (74% to 86%), especially gliomas, followed by infections (8% to 15%), and infarcts (0.6% to 6%), which represent nonneoplastic lesions. Conclusion Given the relatively high percentage of wrong neuroradiology diagnoses, most cases may require histological diagnosis, because even magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) renders difculties in distinguishing such lesions.

Introdução Observação de múltiplas lesões na tomograa computadorizada de crânio (TC) é sempre motivo de preocupação por causa da possibilidade frequente de etiologia neoplásica, embora as doenças granulomatosas, infecciosas, vascular, iatrogênica, desmielinizante, trauma, e parasitárias podem produzir aspecto semelhante na radiologia. Uma ampla gama de condições não neoplásicas pode mimetizar um tumor cerebral, tanto clínica, quanto radiologicamente, representando uma armadilha potencial para os médicos envolvidos no cuidado ao paciente. O objetivo do estudo é alertar a possibilidade de outras etiologias neoplásicas e não neoplásicas no diagnóstico diferencial de lesões hipodensas em TC sem contraste. Métodos Revisão da literatura utilizando PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Ensaios Clínicos, EBSCO, Scielo, Tópicos em radiologia. Foram selecionados por período 1986- 2015. Discussão O conhecimento de várias etiologias, quando confrontado com múltiplas lesões na tomograa computadorizada permite o direcionamento do diagnóstico para o tratamento adequado, evitando a irradiação de lesões não neoplásicas e cirurgias desnecessárias. As lesões mais frequentes são neoplasias (74% a 86%), especialmente gliomas, seguido de infecções (8% a 15%) e infartos (0,6% a 6%), que representam lesões não neoplásicas. Conclusão Como um possível resultado da percentagem relativamente elevada de diagnósticos errados neurorradiológicos, o diagnóstico histológico faz necessário, porque mesmo Ressonância pode ser difícil na diferenciação de tais lesões.

Diretrizes de atenção à reabilitação da pessoa com traumatismo cranioencefálico / Guidelines for the rehabilitation of individual with traumatic brain injury / Directrices para la atención a la rehabilitación de la persona con traumatismo cranioencefálico

elaboração das Diretrizes de Atenção à Reabilitação da Pessoacom TCE baseou-se na literatura atualizada sobre o tema. A buscafoi limitada às línguas inglesa, espanhola, francesa e portuguesa. Foirealizada por um grupo de especialistas, de reconhecimento nacionale internacional. A elaboração das diretrizes foi alcançada por meioda discussão dos resultados do levantamento bibliográfico e da trocapresencial do grupo acerca de suas experiências em relação ao TCE...

Evaluación de las secuelas intelectuales en niños con trauma craneoencefálico severo / Assessment of the intellectual sequelae observed in children with severe traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCCIÓN: el trauma craneoencefálico severo es una de las principales causas de hospitalización y mortalidad en niños mayores de un año. OBJETIVO: conocer y evaluar las secuelas intelectuales que provoca el traumatismo craneoencefálico severo en estos pacientes. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio prospectivo, longitudinal, descriptivo, cuyo universo estuvo constituido por 84 niños mayores de un año de edad con trauma craneoencefálico severo, en un periodo de inclusión desde 1998 a 2008, con un seguimiento de la rehabilitación motora hasta 5 años posterior a la inclusión (hasta 2013). Las variables a estudiar fueron: la edad, el sexo, las causas directas del accidente y las manifestaciones clínicas encontradas en el examen físico. Se determinó el coeficiente de inteligencia y seguimiento a la evolución en el tiempo a través de la escala de repercusiones de Glasgow. RESULTADOS: la causa fundamental de las lesiones craneoencefálicas fueron los accidentes. El sexo de mayor incidencia fue el masculino, y el grupo de edad, el comprendido entre 5-9 años. Se clasificó al 61 % de los pacientes como retrasados mentales moderados, el 32,2 % retrasados mentales leves y el 3,4 % retrasados mentales graves y profundos, respectivamente. Fallecieron 7 niños. La evaluación de la rehabilitación al año confirmó que el 76,6 % de los pacientes mantenían discapacidad severa, y a los 5 años solo el 29,9 % era incapaz de vivir independiente. CONCLUSIONES: los traumatismos craneoencefálicos severos provocan secuelas intelectuales graves en los niños, y no se logra una rehabilitación favorable hasta el año del egreso hospitalario. Los grupos más vulnerables a sufrir traumatismo craneoencefálico son los niños mayores de 5 años y del sexo masculino, y la causa fundamental que lo provocó fue, dentro de los accidentes, las caídas de altura.

INTRODUCTION: severe traumatic brain injury is one of the main causes of hospitalization and mortality in children aged over one year. OBJECTIVE: to identify and to assess the intellectual sequelae that severe traumatic brain injuries cause in these pediatric patients. METHODS: a prospective, longitudinal and descriptive study of 84 over one-year old children suffering severe traumatic brain injuries in the inclusion period of 1998 through 2008, with a follow-up motor rehabilitation up to 5 years (until 2013). The study variables were age, sex, direct causes of accident and clinical manifestations observed on the physical exam. The intelligence quotient and follow-up of progress in the course of time were determined according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS: accidents were the main cause of brain injuries. The most affected were boys and the 5 to 9 years-old group. Sixty one percent of these patients had moderate mental retardation, 32.2 % mild retardation and 3.4 % severe and deep retardation. Seven died. The assessment of the rehabilitative treatment one year after confirmed that 76.6 % of these children kept their severe disability and 5 year after, just 29.9 % of them were unable to manage themselves. CONCLUSIONS: severe traumatic brain injuries cause awful intellectual sequelae in children and favorable rehabilitation is not accomplished till one year of discharge from the hospital. The most vulnerable groups are over 5 years-old children and males, and the fundamental cause of these severe brain injuries were, among the accidents, falls from a high place.

Role of acute alcohol poisoning and craniocerebral trauma in the mechanism of death caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the relation between the expression of tPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and AEG-1 in the human brain tissue and the ethanol concentration under the acute alcohol poison, and to analyze the role of alcohol and trauma in the mechanism of death of subarachnoid hemorrhage.@*METHODS@#Fifteen real cases were collected in this study. The brain tissues were researched by histological examination and the concentration of ethanol in heart blood were detected. The tPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and AEG-1 in brainstem, brain and cerebellum were observed respectively by immunohistochemistry.@*RESULTS@#In alcohol poisoning groups with or without trauma, the acute alcohol toxicity resulted in the swelling of brain tissues. The tPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and AEG-1 of brainstem, brain and cerebellum showed high expression in alcohol victims, and the tPA in cerebellum showed no difference. The expression of the MMP-2, MMP-9 and AEG-1 showed good relation with the ethanol concentration in blood (P < 0.05, r > 0.6).@*CONCLUSION@#The expressions of tPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and AEG-1 are significant higher in alcohol victims, and expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and AEG-1 have positive correlation with the alcohol concentration. The alcohol has acute toxicity to brain cells.

Lesões traumáticas de nervos cranianos / Traumatic lesions to the cranial nerves

Objetivo: Documentar a incidência de lesões traumáticas de nervos cranianos, assim como a etiologia traumática, correlacionar as lesões dos nervos cranianos com achados radiológicos (lesões cranianas e intracranianas) e estudar lesões múltiplas de nervos cranianos. Métodos: Cinquenta e quatro pacientes admitidos no Serviço de Emergência da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo com lesões traumáticas nos diferentes nervos cranianos foram incluídos. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à radiografia simples de crânio, tomografia computadorizada e, quando indicada, ressonância magnética de encéfalo. Os pacientes foram divididos em três grupos de acordo com o escore da Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECG) em: trauma leve (ECG de 13 a 15), moderado (ECG de 9 a 12) e grave (ECG de 3 a 8). Resultados: Os nervos cranianos mais afetados de forma isolada foram olfatório, facial e oculomotor. O atropelamento foi a causa mais comum de lesão de nervos cranianos de forma isolada, assim como nas lesões de múltiplos nervos. Contusões e hematomas extradurais foram as lesões intracranianas mais frequentes. Conclusão: Neuropatia craniana de etiologia traumática ocorre frequentemente e deve ser pesquisada à admissão do paciente, pois pode exigir descompressão de estruturas nervosas importantes como nervo óptico e facial.

Objective: To register the incidence of the traumatic lesions to the cranial nerves and its etiology; to correlate the lesions to the radiological findings (cranial and intracranial) and study multiple cranial nerve lesions. Methods: Fifty-four patients admitted to the Emergency Service of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo Hospital have been studied and lesions to the different cranial nerves were described. All patients were submitted do radiographic exams, computed tomography, and, when necessary, magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in: mild trauma (GCS: 13 to 15), moderate (GCS: 9 to 12) and severe (GCS: 3 to 8). Results: Posttraumatic single nerve lesion was more frequent seen on olfactory, facial and oculomotor nerves. Running over was the main cause of these lesions (single nerve and multiple nerves). Contusions and extradural hematomas were the most frequent intracranial lesions. Conclusion: Traumatic cranial neuropathy occurs frequently and must be searched on the patient admission, because it can surgical decompression may necessary, such as decompression of the optic or facial nerves.

Demographic profile of head injury cases in Agra region.

Head injury is a serious health problem throughout the world. Increasing vehicles on roads work as catalyst for high incidence of casualties especially of Cranio-cerebral injuries. This is an autopsy based study of head injury cases, conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, S.N. Medical College Agra in year 2009-2010 for their demographic and etiological profile. Majority of the victims of head injury are male (76%) and of 3rd – 4th decade of life (54.4%). 66.4% head injury cases due to accident, Road traffic accident is the single largest cause i.e. 59.2%; out of which two wheelers are responsible for one-third (33%) of the casualties. Most common external injury is laceration of the scalp with or without contusion. Fracture of skull bones (97.2% cases; mostly fissured and comminuted fracture of parietal & temporal) and intracranial hemorrhages (96.4%) are seen in almost all the cases. Contre-coup injuries seen in about 2.8% cases, contre-coup haemorrhage observe mostly fronto-temporal area. Majority of the victim died on the spot or in the way to hospital without any medical assistance where the Cause of death mostly haemorrhage and shock.

Electrocution method to conceal homicide A rare case report.

Killing of a human being is one of the most serious or major crimes. Assailants are very keen to conceal crime by different methods, so there may be wrong interpretation by inexperienced autopsy surgeons and hence it may lead to injustice. So it is important that our keen observation and opinion should be conclusive for the administration of justice. In this paper we are presenting a rare case which was brought by police as a case of electrocution. After meticulous autopsy and crime scene visit, the case turned to be of homicidal manner. The cause of death was manual strangulation with head injury and electrical injuries were post-mortem in nature. The deceased was under the influence of alcohol. The necessary investigations like histo-pathological examination also ruled out ante-mortem nature of electric injury. The present paper highlights the importance of meticulous autopsy and crime scene visit for determination of cause and manner of death.

Perfil clínico-epidemiológico de traumatismo cranioencefálico do Hospital de Urgências e Traumas no município de Petrolina, estado de Pernambuco / Clinical and epidemiological profile of head trauma at the Urgências e Traumas Hospital in the city of Petrolina, Pernambuco

Objetivo: No Brasil, dentre o conjunto de lesões decorrentes das causas externas, o traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE) destaca-se em termos de magnitude, tanto em mortos quanto em feridos. Este estudo visa avaliar epidemiologicamente os casos de TCEs ocorridos no Vale do São Francisco, analisando-os quanto a idade, sexo, procedência, etiologia do trauma, conduta e exames complementares. Método: Foram estudados, de forma descritiva e analítica, com abordagem quantitativa, os prontuários dos pacientes vítimas de TCE admitidos no Hospital de Urgências e Traumas, entre os meses de dezembro de 2008 a junho de 2009. No total, foram avaliados 101 prontuários. Conclusão: A etiologia do TCE mais frequente foram os acidentes motociclísticos, seguidos por queda. O sexo masculino é o mais acometido e a faixa etária mais acometida foi a dos 21 aos 40 anos. Com relação à classificação de gravidade do TCEs, 53,47% foram classificados como leves, 25,73%, como moderados e 20,80%, como graves; evidencia-se a prevalência do TCE leve, porém com percentual significativo de casos graves.

Objective: In Brazil, among the set of injuries resulting from external causes, the head trauma (HT) stands out in terms of magnitude, both in dead and wounded. This study aims to evaluate epidemiologically the cases of traumatic brain injury occurred in the São Francisco Valley analyzing them in age, sex, origin, trauma etiology, conduct and additional tests. Method: The medical records of patients victims of head injury admitted to the Urgências e Traumas Hospital, between December 2008 and June 2009 were studied in a descriptive and analytical with a quantitative approach. A total of 101 medical records were evaluated. Conclusion: The most common etiology of HT were motorcycle accidents, followed by fall. Male is the most affected gender and most affected age group was 21 to 40 years. Regarding the classification of severity of HT, 53.47% were classified as mild, 25.73% were classified as moderate and 20.80% classified as severe, indicating the prevalence of mild HT, but with a significant percentage of severe cases.

Pattern of injuries in a Fatal small aircraft accident.

Aircraft accident investigation is divided between human and machine factors. Human factors include intoxication, cardiovascular pathology, CO Poisoning, hypoxia, vertigo, operational errors. Machine factors are focused on impact based on speed, direction of travel, angle of impact and altitude. Autopsy data from individual aviation crashes have long been used in aviation safety research. The present study examines the injury pattern in occupants of a light executive jet aircraft crashed in bad monsoon weather, while on a flight, killing all eight persons on board including the two pilots. The bodies of the victims were brought to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. All bodies were sufficiently intact and were easily identifiable. Detailed autopsies were performed on all the eight occupants, which yielded findings relevant to the cause of the accident. Our findings emphasize the need for autopsy on all aviation accident victims, especially pilots, as it is the only reliable method to find out the various factors contributing to an accident.

Original research paper patterns of head injuries in fatal road traffic accidents in a rural district of Maharashtra- autopsy based study.

Road traffic accidents are the major causes of death worldwide. Head injury is the single most common cause of mortality in road traffic accidents; head being the most vulnerable part of the body. The present study was undertaken on 138 victims of road traffic accidents, died due to head injury to find out the patterns of head injuries, their age and sex distribution and site distribution of different types of fractures. The highest incidence was seen in age group of 21-30 years and males clearly outnumbered females. In the present study, most of the incidents occurred between 1200 to 1800 hours. The maximum number of victims (39.57%) died while on the way to hospital. The motor-cyclists were the commonest group of victims and trucks being the commonest offending vehicles. Intracranial haemorrhages were seen in 113 cases, skull fractures were found in 95 cases and injury to brain in 51 cases. Linear fracture of skull with basal fracture was the commonest type and temporo-parietal region was involved predominantly. Subdural haemorrhage was the commonest haemorrhage observed.

Maltrato infantil, TEC y diagnóstico por imágenes / Child abuse, traumatic brain injury and image diagnosis

Non-accidental Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in children is a significant social problem, which can leave significant permanent neurological sequelae, especially in children under 2 yo. This review shows the clinical symptomatological spectrum, which is sometimes quite subtle. It also provides the basis for use of images modalities for its study, to confirm a precise diagnosis.

El traumatismo encéfalo craneano de origen no accidental en niños, constituye un problema grave que afecta a nuestra sociedad y que puede dejar secuelas neurológicas permanentes especialmente en menores de dos años. Como una manera de situar el problema, hemos realizado una revisión con el objetivo de conocer el espectro de la sintomatología clínica del traumatismo encéfalo craneano, a veces muy sutil y fundamentar el rol de las distintas modalidades neuroradiológicas para precisar y confirmar su diagnóstico.