A Postmortem Study of Pedestrian Injuries to Find out Risk Factors And Preventive Measures.

Objectives: Present study is a little effort to understand factors responsible for pedestrians accidents, to determine risk factors, sources and causes of mortality involved in pedestrians accidents, to reach a conclusion regarding prevention of pedestrians accidents and reducing pedestrians mortality. Materials and Method: Present study is a retrospective study based on an analysis of 156 autopsies on cases of pedestrian accidents at Sheth V.S. General Hospital, Ahmadabad during two consecutive years from May 2008 to April 2010. Result: Following risk factors are identified from this study- old age, heavy motor vehicles, city life, morning hours of the day etc. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable to vehicular injuries and victims of road traffic accidents. There is less awareness in pedestrians as well as in drivers of vehicles regarding road traffic accidents and its consequences.

A Study of Pattern of Vehicular Injuries over Pedestrians: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Present study makes a little effort to understand patterns of injuries over pedestrians during road traffic accidents, to set on record a statistical statement of the severity and survival period in pedestrians accidents and to define, delineate and compare present study with other available studies. Materials and Methods: Present study is based on an analysis of 156 autopsies on victims of pedestrian accidents at Sheth V.S. General Hospital, Ahmedabad during two consecutive years from May 2008 to April 2010. Result: This study shows the males (80.8%) are outnumbered the females (19.2%). Evaluation of patterns of injuries shows head injury is overall most common in pedestrians. In primary impact injury head injury (41%) and lower limb injuries (36.5%) are most common followed by pelvic injuries (12.1%). Head injury (33.9%) is again most common in secondary impact injuries. Chest injuries (16.6%) and abdomen injury (12.8%) are most common secondary injuries to pedestrians followed by head (8.3%) and neck (5.1%). Road traffic accidents are the major contributors of unnatural deaths worldwide. Pedestrians are the most commonly involved victims in such cases.

Post Mortem Study Of Injuries to the Internal Neck Structures in Cases of Death Due To Hanging.

Virtually all hangings are suicidal in nature and all ligature strangulations are homicidal in nature. So for the purpose of police investigation differentiation between two is very important and necessary. It is generally said that deaths due to hanging are devoid of any injury to the internal neck structures while in strangulation these injuries are always present. So injuries to the internal neck structures are sometimes used as differentiating factor between hanging and strangulation along with other factors. Aim: The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of injuries to the internal neck structures in deaths due to hanging. Method: This study was conducted at mortuary of the civil hospital, Ahmadabad in the year 2013. Total 40 cases of deaths due to hanging were randomly selected. Result: Out of these 40 cases 26(65%) were male and 14(45%) were female. 22 (55%) cases were showing injuries to the internal neck structures in the form of haemorrhage in to the soft tissues and strap muscles or fracture of superior horn of thyroid cartilage or greater cornue of hyoid bone. However these injuries are mainly found present beneath the ligature mark except some indirect injuries e.g. haemorrhage at the origin of sternomastoid muscle and avulsion fracture of greater cornue of hyoid bone due to over stretching of thyro-hyoid membrane. These injuries in cases of hanging are not extensive as found in cases of death due to strangulation. In one case extension distraction fracture of cervical spine at c3-c4 level was found which very rare finding in suicidal hanging is. Conclusion: From the present study it is evident that injuries to the internal neck structures are not very uncommon in the hanging. Though the extent and frequency of injuries are less compare to the ligature strangulation.

Post mortem study of congenital anomalies of the sternum bone.

Introduction: The sternum is one of the skeleton parts with frequent variation in appearances on images or autopsy series. Method:Present study was carried out during the year 2010 and 2011 at Department of Forensic Medicine, P. D. U. Government Medical College, Rajkot. The study was carried out to find out congenital anomalies of sternum bone recovered from the cadavers during post mortem examination. Result: Total 114 sternum bones were studied out of which 24 were having congenital anomalies either in the body of sternum or in xiphoid process. No any abnormality is found in manubrium. Sternal foramen is found in 10 cases and it is the most common form of congenital anomaly of sternum. Other anomalies are xiphoid foramen in 7 cases, fissured 4th segment in 5 cases and bifid xiphoid is found in 2 cases. Misinterpretation of autopsy findings has been a major concern to forensic pathologists. This article documents the occurrence of relatively rare congenital anomalies which may be misleading and may result in serious erroneous conclusions, particularly when evaluating skeletonised human remains. Conclusion: Presence of these anomalies and their antemortem records in the form of previous x rays make important data for the identification of skeletonised remains.

Radiological age estimation from sternum.

Introduction: Verification or determination of the age is prerequisite for personal identification in living as well as dead and age estimation is one of the important tasks for a medico-legal practice. Skeletal examination is important for identification of an individual either living or dead especially for the estimation of age. Material and Method: In the present study, authors have tried to work out the criteria for determination of age of the deceased with the help of sternum. Authors have studied 109 sterna procured from the cadavers with known age brought for post-mortem examination at the civil hospital, ahmedabad. Fusion of manubrium and xiphoid process with the body of sternum was studied radiologically. The data thus collected, were analysed statistically and conclusion was drawn. Result: According to the present study, for males, the age of fusion between xiphisterum and body of the sternum is at 42 years, for females, the age of fusion between xiphisterum and body of the sternum is at 44 years. In males, the fusion at manubrio-sternal starts at the age of 50 years and it completes after the age of 59 years but the exact age for complete fusion at manubrio-sternal joint could not be defined. Amongst females, the cases showing first degree fusion are seen increasing from the age of 54 years and complete fusion after the age of 64 years. But here also the exact pattern could not be defined. Conclusion: Estimation of age by radiology will be of very much helpful to the medicolegal experts in determining the age of unknown deceased as well as skeletonised remains.

Profile of pedestrian deaths in road traffic accidents.

Introduction: Pedestrians deaths in automobile road accidents in frequently encountered. Pedestrian deaths constitute a high percentage of all road fatalities. Material & Method:Out of total 367 accident death postmortem examinations,87(23.70%) were pedestrians. The present study aimed at analyzing pattern of 87 pedestrian deaths; out of these 73 were male victims. Results: Majority of pedestrian accidents occurs at 10AM-2PM (27 cases) followed by 6 PM-10PM(25 cases). The pedestrians were hit by heavy vehicles in 31 cases, two wheelers in 20 cases, car &jeep in 16 cases Head injury is responsible in 67 pedestrian death cases followed by chest injury in 40 cases, abdominal injury in 28 cases.