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Background: In March 2020, the world health organization declared COVID-19 a world wide pandemic. Countries introduced public health measures to contain and reduce its spread. The effect of mandated societal lockdown to reduce the transmission of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on road traffic accidents is not known. For this we performed an in-depth analysis singdata of emergency and trauma centre UPUMS, Saifai. As most of the manpower was involved in managing Covid patients directly or indirectly, it was a challenge to manage these mass casualty patients who require intensive care as well as Medicolegal documentation, record keeping, Consent for life saving procedures in absence of Relatives. Material(s) and Method(s): We reviewed data on total 2876 road traffic accident records in UPUMS, Saifai from January 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020. We treated March 20th as the first day of mandated societal lock down and 1st July as the first day of re-opening. Result(s): We have found that the reis increase in road traffic accidents resulting in serious or fatal injuries during lockdown and post-lockdown period. There was increased Medicolegal burden in spite of the decreased medical resources, manpower as most of manpower and resources were being utilized for covid patients. Conclusion(s): Road traffic accidents are a prominent contributor to hospitalization and may negatively impact the existing hospital resources directed towards COVID-19.Copyright © 2023, World Informations Syndicate. All rights reserved.
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Background and Objectives: In every tertiary care hospital, casualty deals with the emergency cases of which the majority are Medico legal cases. The knowledge about the incidence of Medico legal cases is important to recognise the socioeconomic burden. The present study was conducted to scrutinize different Medicolegal cases at the emergency department of Mediciti Hospital, Medchal. The idea of the study was to find out frequency of several types of medico legal cases at casualty of Mediciti Hospital, Medchal. Material(s) and Method(s): It was a record based cross sectional study in which all the MLC cases registered in MLC record book from March 2020-March 2021 were analyzed. The data was collected on age, sex, type of Medico legal cases, road traffic accidents, mode of occurrence, month-wise distribution of medico legal cases and the time of occurrence. Results were expressed in numbers and percentages. Result(s): Out of all 355 registered medico legal cases, of which 258(73.2%) were males and 94(26.76%) were females. Maximum cases were from the age group of 20-29 years i.e., 127(43.09%). Majority of the MLC's registered we are due to road traffic accidents 144(39.7%) followed by Assault 49(13.8%), falls-43(12.7%), poisoning-43(12.1%), and injury at workplace-43(12.1%), accidental-14(3.9%), snake bite-8(2.2%) and others (7.4%). Conclusion(s): The present study shows RTAs account for a major part of MLCs. By proper education and training of safety measures among public decreases the cases. Enforcement of strict laws reduces the incidence of road traffic accidents. And also, strict laws should be amended to reduce the incidence of Assault.Copyright © 2023, Dr Yashwant Research Labs Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Background: In March 2020, the world health organization declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. Countries introduced public health measures to contain and reduce its spread. The effect of mandated societal lockdown to reduce the transmission of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on road traffic accidents is not known. For this we performed an in-depth analysis using data of emergency and trauma centre UPUMS, Saifai Materials and Methods: We reviewed data on total 2876 road traffic accident records in UPUMS, Saifai from January 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020. We treated March 20th as the first day of mandated societal lockdown and 1st July as the first day of re-opening Results: We have found that there is increase in road traffic accidents resulting in serious or fatal injuries during lockdown and post-lockdown period. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents are a prominent contributor to hospitalization and may negatively impact the existing hospital resources directed towards COVID-19. © 2023 DMICS.
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Context: Effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown on road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Chhattisgarh, India. Background: Most neurosurgical emergencies are from brain and spine trauma. RTA is the leading cause of such injuries. While the nationwide lockdown was an extreme measure to control the COVID pandemic, it influenced the overall road traffic dynamics and neurotrauma. Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of the lockdown on neurotrauma. Methods and Materials: This retrospective study included all patients with brain and spine injuries who were admitted between January 17th and May 31st, 2020. The study population was divided into prelockdown (PL) and lockdown (L) groups. Results: Of the 668 patients, 436 were placed in the PL and 232 in the L group. The mean ages were 36.34 (SD = 17.96) and 35.98 (SD = 16.93), respectively. Male to female ratios were 82.3:17.7 in the PL group and 79.7:20.3 for the L group. RTA-related injuries were significantly lower during the lockdown period (n = 335 PL vs. 162 L [P = 0.048]). During the lockdown, there were more mild injuries (25.91% PL vs. 36.63% L) and less severe injuries (33.25% PL vs. 18.96% L [P = 0.0002]). Mortality was significantly less (P = 0.029) during the lockdown (n = 48 L vs. 124 PL). The proportion of RTA-related neurotrauma cases increased (33.33% L1, 57.14% L2, 73.13% L3, and 80.39% L4) with each phase of lockdown (L1-L4). Conclusions: During the lockdown period, the number of trauma cases had decreased, with a significant decrease in RTA-related admissions, along with their severity and mortality. The number of trauma cases and their severity increased gradually with each phase of lockdown.
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COVID-19 , Spinal Injuries , Humans , Male , Female , Pandemics , Accidents, Traffic , Retrospective Studies , Communicable Disease Control/methodsABSTRACT
Background With an increasing number of cases of COVID-19 disease, the Indian government announced a complete lockdown on March 24, 2020, and the country remained under complete lockdown in April 2020. After ramping up health infrastructure and although cases were on the rise, the lockdown was ordered to gradually lift in May 2020. Methodology It was a retrospective cross-sectional study of all patients admitted to our medical college trauma center in April 2020 and who were compared with April 2019. We studied the prevalence and outcome of road traffic accidents (RTA), assault, and fall from height (FFH) victims admitted to our trauma center. Data were collected using an Excel sheet, and statistical analysis was done using the latest available SSPS software. Results Our study groups included 124 trauma patients from April 2020 as compared with 322 trauma patients from April 2019. The intense lockdown resulted in a decrease in the number of RTA (-72%), FFH (-29%), and assault patients (-7%). There was no statistically significant change in patients' care and management at our center in terms of mortality and morbidity. No Covid-19-positive neurosurgery trauma patients were admitted in April 2020 to our center. Conclusion During the stringent lockdown period of April 2020, there was a significant decrease in the number of trauma victims, especially RTAs. The intense lockdown resulted in a significant decrease in the proportion of trauma victims under the influence of alcohol, head injuries, fractures, and dislocations along with a decrease in the number of cases of assaults and FFH as compared with the unlock period.
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On 24th March 2020, the Government of India ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, starting from 25th March, limiting the movement of India's entire 1.3 billion population as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The Lockdown eventually extended in 4 phases, spanning entire 68 days till 31st May 2020. The first of its kind lockdown impacted the lives of all the countrymen in different aspects, viz. personal, social, psychological and economic aspects. The different studies carried out in the past had proven that the profile of Medico-legal autopsy cases in particular geographical regions reflects the crime prevailing in the society. It helps to assess the social and economic profile of the deceased. It is necessary for understanding the nature of crime in a particular area. It helps identify the demographic needs and take necessary preventive measures to stop the crime or unnatural deaths using spreading awareness and psychological counselling if needed. This study was carried out retrospectively on death cases brought for medico-legal autopsies at the mortuary of Civil Hospital and B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad between the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period of 25th March 2020 to 31st May 2020. © 2021, Journal of Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine. All Rights Reserved.
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Deaths due to road traffic accidents (RTA) accounted for 2.46% of deaths out of the total deaths in Indonesia. Road safety education (RSE), as an effort to prevent RTA, focuses on increasing knowledge;however, variations of techniques, methods, and media are less used. This study aims to analyze the application of RSE innovations that have been compiled based on interests and needs of adolescents, which are expected to be able to increase knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and safe driving behavior. This research used a quasi-experimental approach with a non-randomized pre-test–post-test control group design approach. The Zainafree Program intervention model was conducted for 6 weeks on 362 students who were selected using purposive sampling technique at two schools with the same characteristics. The bivariate analysis was conducted to observe the effect of the model on changes in knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behavior. We analyzed multivariately using GLM-RMA to determine the effectiveness of the model from various confounding factors. The Mann–Whitney test in the intervention and control group demonstrated a significant difference in the average post-test score of two on all dependent variables (p = 0.000). The results of the GLM-RMA test demonstrated the effect of the Zainafree Program on knowledge (p = 0.000;ETA Square = 35.1), beliefs (p = 0.000;ETA Square = 32.0), attitudes (p = 0.000;ETA Square = 50.9), intentions (p = 0.000, ETA Square = 20.7), and behavior (p = 0.000;ETA Square = 28.2), after adjusting for involvement between confounding variables (p = 0.000;ETA Square = 16.2), which demonstrated that the intervention was able to explain 16.2 changes that occur in the scores of five aspects together. The RSE program was proven to be successful in increasing students’ knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behavior compared to those who did not receive the program.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the number and severity of road traffic accidents in Italy in 2020, in particular after the beginning of COVID-19 and during the lockdown, as compared with 2019, with monthly details and geographical variations within the country. METHODS: Official monthly data on road traffic accidents recorded by the Police in Italy in 2020 were compared with those in 2019. The comparison regarded number of accidents, percent change, non-fatal injuries, deaths, injury index (injuries/accidents ×100) and fatality index (deaths/accidents ×100). Monthly data were graphically presented separately for each of the 21 Italian Regions and autonomous Provinces. RESULTS: A steep generalized decrease in the number of road traffic accidents was observed in March and April 2020 (Italian lockdown) as compared with the corresponding months of 2019 (more than 70% change), with a smaller change in the number of deaths, more variable among Regions. Smaller decreases were observed in the following part of 2020. CONCLUSIONS: In Italy, lockdown and limitation of mobility due to COVID-19 determined a strong decrease in the number of road traffic accidents and their health consequences. Inter-regional variability in the decrease of deaths might be associated with the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 local outbreak, although specific causes need to be investigated. These data are useful to inform traffic and public health policy makers.
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Accidents, Traffic , COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, travel-restriction policies widely adopted by cities across the world played a profound role in reshaping urban travel patterns. At the same time, there has been an increase in both cycling trips and traffic accidents involving cyclists. This paper aims to provide new insights and policy guidance regarding the effect of COVID-19 related travel-restriction policies on the road traffic accident patterns, with an emphasis on cyclists' safety. Specifically, by analysing the accidents data in the New York City and estimating three fixed effects logit models on the occurrence of different types of accidents in a given zip code area and time interval, we derived the following findings. First, while the overall number of road traffic accidents plummeted in the NYC after the stay-at-home policy was implemented, the average severity increased. The average number of cyclists killed or injured per accidents more than tripled relative to levels in similar times in previous years. Second, the declaration of the New York State stay-at-home order was significantly associated with a higher risk of accidents resulting in casualties. The number of Citi Bike trips in the area at the time overwhelmingly predicted severe risk for cyclists. Last, we applied the models to detect hot zones for cyclists' severe accidents. We found that these hot zones tend to be spatially and temporally concentrated, making it possible to devise targeted safety measures. This paper contributes to the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 travel-restriction policies on accidents involving cyclists, reveals higher risks for cyclists as an unintended consequence of travel-restriction policies, and provides an analytical tool for road safety impact evaluation should future travel restrictions be considered.
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Accidents, Traffic , COVID-19 , Bicycling , Humans , New York City , Policy , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the COVID-19 times, Indian sub-continent is struggling to contain the epidemic and trying to strengthen the existing health infrastructure, the national level lockdown has raised concerns about the pattern of injuries whether it has remained the same or has changed over this period. This is the first study to compare injury pattern during the two months lockdown period with the data of corresponding months from years 2016-2020. Also we compared the age- and sex-wise distribution patterns of these injuries for the above mentioned period. METHODS: This retrospective cross sectional study was conducted by the Department of Orthopaedics in Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital (GGSMCH) in Faridkot, Punjab. Secondary data for patient's age and sex, mode of injury, and site of injury was collected through record review for the period of two months (24th March to 24th May) for five consecutive years of 2016-2020. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test was used to see the association between age and sex with mode and type of injury. RESULTS: The five year injury trends reflected that the proportion of injuries in 2016 was 16.5% (n = 48) of the total musculoskeletal injuries (n = 291) which rose to 23.4% (n = 68) in 2020. Majority of the patients were males (80%), and belonged to adult age group (69.4%) followed by elderly (17.2%), adolescents (8.6%) and children (4.8%). The proportion of road traffic accidents out of all injuries significantly reduced during the lock down period of two months in 2020 (p = 0.001). On the contrary, the proportion of injuries due to falls as well as unspecified assault increased significantly in 2020 as compared to previous years. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of musculoskeletal injuries have increased from 2016-2020. Unspecified assault and all types of falls pushed the road traffic accidents to third position during the lockdown period in 2020 as compared to previous four years. Injury surveillance needs to be integrated in routine hospital system for precise information and for more efficient functioning.
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BACKGROUND: As citizens have been forced to stay home during coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the crisis created unique trends in the neurotrauma patterns with changes in mode, severity, and outcome of head injured patients. METHODS: Details of neurotrauma admissions under the neurosurgery department at our institute since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in the country were collected retrospectively and compared to the same period last year in terms of demographic profile, mode of injury, GCS at admission, severity of head injury, radiological diagnosis, management (surgical/conservative), and outcome. The patients were studied according to which phase of pandemic they were admitted in - "lockdown" period (March 25 to May 31, 2020) or "unlock" period (June 1 to September 15, 2020). RESULTS: The number of head injuries decreased by 16.8% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, during the lockdown period, the number of admissions was 2.7/week while it was 6.8/week during the "unlock" period. RTA was the mode of injury in 29.6% patients during the lockdown, while during the unlock period, it was 56.9% (P = 0.000). Mild and moderate head injuries decreased by 41% and severe head injuries increased by 156.25% during the COVID-19 pandemic (P = 0.000). The mortality among neurotrauma patients increased from 12.4% to 22.5% during the COVID-19 era (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: We observed a decline in the number of head injury admissions during the pandemic, especially during the lockdown. At the same time, there was increase in the severity of head injuries and associated injuries, resulting in significantly higher mortality in our patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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BACKGROUND: The effect of mandated societal lockdown to reduce the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on road traffic accidents is not known. For this reason, we performed an in-depth analysis using data from Statewide Traffic Accident Records System. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed data on total 2292 road traffic accident records in Missouri from January 1, 2020 through May 15, 2020. We treated March 23 as the first day of mandated societal lockdown and May 3 as the first day of re-opening. RESULTS: We have found that there was a significant reduction in road traffic accidents resulting in minor or no injuries (mean 14.5 versus 10.8, p < 0.0001) but not in accidents resulting in serious or fatal injuries (mean 3.4 versus 3.7, p = 0.42) after mandated societal lockdown. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in road traffic accidents resulting in minor or no injuries after the mandated social lockdown (parameter estimate -5.9, p = 0.0028) in the time series analysis. There was an increase in road traffic accidents resulting in minor or no injuries after expiration of mandatory societal lockdown (mean 10.8 versus 13.7, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The mandated societal lockdown policies led to reduction in road traffic accidents resulting in non-serious or no injuries but not those resulting in serious or fatal injuries.