Pattern of fatal head injuries due to vehicular accidents in manipal.

ABSTRACT

Head injury is an important cause of mortality worldwide as head is the most vulnerable part of the body involved in fatal road traffic accidents. The present study was undertaken on 100 victims of Road Traffic Accident who died due to injuries sustained to the head, which were autopsied at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal over a period of 3 years between January 1995 and December 1997. Most of the accidents had taken place in the afternoon hours (12.01 - 18.00 hrs). There was a marked male preponderance (89 %). The most vulnerable age group to accidents was found to be 21 to 30 years. Both pedestrians and occupants were equally involved. Two-wheeler occupants were most commonly involved. Head injury was present in 82 % of cases with skull fracture in 62 %. Fracture of the vault was found in 38 %, base of the skull in 34 % and both in 28 % of cases. In most of the cases, fissured fracture was found (57 %). Among intra-cranial haemorrhages, subdural haemorrhage was found in 77 % and subarachnoid haemorrhage in 55 % of cases. Contusions and lacerations of brain were found equally in 35 % of cases.