Injury patterns from road traffic accidents

ABSTRACT

To report the pattern of injuries from high speed road traffic accidents [RTA] in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia. In this prospective criteria based one year study; data was collected upon arrival of patients to the accident and emergency department. The patients were grouped into two, with fractures [Group-1] and without [Group-2]. A total of 1513 patients were included, 628 in Group-1 and 885 in Group-2. There were 1356 male and 157 female patients in total. Majority were in the younger age group, drivers and front seat passengers. Fewer were using restrains and more reported driving with high speeds in group-1 compared to group-2. Most accidents occurred during 1200 hrs to 2400 hrs in both groups. Although most of the causative factors of Road traffic accidents in this region of Saudi Arabia are similar to the rest of the world; some remain unique to the region