A review of pedestrian traffic fatalities.

ABSTRACT

Pedestrians injured in automobile accidents constitute one of the most frequent serious problems in management for emergency room surgeons. The incidence of deaths in pedestrians is significantly higher than in other road users. This study attempted to analyse the pattern of injuries sustained by 129 pedestrians in road traffic accidents. It was found that the pedestrians were the commonest group of victims involved in fatal road accidents comprising 28.7% of all cases. 83.7% cases were males. There were two peaks of incidence in relation to age; one at childhood (20.9%) and the other in elderly (19.37%). Cars and heavy vehicles were the commonest offending agents comprising 41.9% and 31.8% respectively. The pedestrians themselves were at fault in 43.4% cases. Head injury was seen in 80% cases; followed by lower limb fractures (42.6%), and chest injury (38.8%). The cause of death was head injury in 56.6% cases followed by thoraco-abdominal injuries in 8.5% cases and multiple injuries in 7.8% cases.