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.

Poisoning: an unnatural cause of morbidity and mortality in rural India.

BACKGROUND: Ninety-nine percent of fatal poisonings occur in developing countries, particularly among agricultural workers. In a particular area, it is important to known the magnitude and pattern of acute poisonings, as it is important for early diagnosis and treatment and also for preventive measures. METHODS: Hospital records of all unnatural causes of deaths were reviewed at Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal, Maharashtra during the five years period, 1997-2001. Autopsy records in fatal poisonings were studied for age, sex, residence, marital status, type of poison and manner of poisoning (accidental, suicidal or homicidal). Admission and death rates of acute poisonings were compared with those from other unnatural causes. RESULTS: Acute poisoning is the leading most cause of unnatural deaths and third common cause of emergency hospitalizations in this rural part of India. Of all fatal cases, 67% were males, 63% married, 83% with rural residence and 63.4% suicides. Responsible poison could not be ascertained in 16% of clinical and 9.9% of fatal cases. Insecticides were responsible for 35% of clinical and 55.4% of fatal cases. CONCLUSIONS: Young married males of rural background with agricultural occupation and failure of monsoon are the risk factors associated with poisoning cases.