Fatal road traffic accidents, study of distribution, nature and type of injury.

ABSTRACT

During one year study period medico legal autopsies were conducted on 950 cases of fatal road traffic accidents at the mortuary of SRN Hospital, MLN Medical College, Allahabad. M/F ratio 31. 33.68% of cases were in the age group of 25-44 years. Pedestrians were most vulnerable accounting for 35.79% of total fatalities followed by motorized two wheelers 30.53%. Heavy Vehicles were found to be mostly involved 58.52% of cases and most accidents 83.05% occurred on highways. Majority of cases sustained multiple injuries. Primary impact injuries were recorded in 455 cases and pedestrians 36.26% were mostly affected followed by pedal cyclists 20.88%. 505 cases sustained secondary impact injuries and pedestrians and motor cyclists were primarily involved. Of 697 secondary injuries, 29.99% were sustained by motorcyclists followed by pediastrians 22.67%. Mostly lower extremities 27.39% and pelvis 25.99% received the primary impacts; the head and neck 55.62% the secondary impacts, while secondary injuries were mostly located in the lower extremities 28.38%. Largest number of injuries were recorded in lower extremities 804 number, followed by head & neck 748 number. Vehicle occupants mostly sustained thoracic injuries. In majority of cases, the site of initial impact of the responsible vehicle was frontal (45.14%) followed by rear (25.83%) and side (7.01%). In 179 cases (22.02%) site of responsible vehicle were not known.