Pattern of injuries and death sustained by the occupants of the two-wheeler during road traffic accidents

• Main Authors: Shamshuddin R. Kakeri, M.A. Bagali, E.S. Goudar, Sayed Yunus Qadri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Al Ameen Medical College 2014-04-01
• Series: Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Road traffic accident; autopsy; injuries; Hemorrhage
• Online Access: http://ajms.alameenmedical.org/ArticlePDFs/AJMS%20V7.N2.2014%20p%20118-124.pdf
• ISSN: 0974-1143; 0974-1143

Aims: To highlight the various causative factors and to suggest preventive measures so as to save precious human lives from the man – made calamities. Materials & Methods: In the present study, total 150 road traffic accident cases were admitted at Al Ameen Medical College Hospital& Civil Hospital, Bijapur, from Nov 2005 to May 2007. Out of 150 RTA vitims, 132 were male & 18 were females. Results: Of the 150 RTA males were in majority and in the age group of 20-40 years, were either students or businessmen. Of the 18 females, all were students in the age group of 5-20 years. All the RTA were from two wheelers of which majority were using motocycles of Yamaha RX 100 bike followed by Pulsar bike. In this study of 150 victims 57 died on the spot, rest 93 survived for awhile after the accident and all of them died either in the hospital (50%) or while shifting to the hospital (6%) The survival time ranged from 15 minutes to 16 days. Conclusions: Incidence was more common among the two–wheeler vehicle driver. Head was the commonest site to be injured in road traffic accident. Skull bone fracture was the commonest fracture in road traffic accident cases followed by femur. Among skull bone fracture, temporal bone commonly involved. Subdural hemorrhage was the commonest hemorrhage and laceration of brain tissue was highest among all brain tissue injury. Liver and lung involvement was highest among internal organ injuries. Overall fatality was 27.11% and it was more in female cases. Head injury was commonest cause of death in road traffic accident. In this study the skull injuries were common and more fatal. In 135 cases the skull was damaged, in all 100 % RTA victims. It is observed in the study that majority 74% of the RTA victims were not wearing helmets and only 6% of the RTA victims were wearing helmets. Thus from the above study it is evident that, if a person wears helmet damage to the skull, brain and membrane can be minimized and fatality can be reduced.