Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

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Study of Pattern of Injuries in Victims of Fatal Road Trafic Accidents in Nepal


Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Chitwan School of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur-10, Chitwan, Nepal
2 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
3 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
4 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
     

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During one year study period medico-legal autopsies were conducted on 150 cases of fatal road traffic accident (RTA) victims at the mortuary of B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. Among age group 21-30 years, highest number (29.3%) of road traffic fatalities occurs. Male accounted for 76.7% of RTA deaths, with over three fourth that of female. About 3/4th of the fatal accidents took place on highways (74.7%) followed by on city road (12%). Nearly half of the victims (45.3%) came from rural areas. Majority of the victims were pedestrians (39.3%) followed by motorcyclists (26.7%). Among the victims in whom impact injuries could be identified at autopsy 61.3% of victims sustained secondary injuries followed by secondary impact injuries 58.7%. In majority of the cases, the site of initial impact of the responsible vehicle was frontal (31.3%) followed by rear (28%) and side (18.7%). Lower extremities were mostly crushed (17 or 11.3%) followed by head&neck (12 or 8%). 77.3% victims had sustained fractures followed by abrasions 73.3% and contusion 64%. In the majority of the cases, brain 32.7% was injured followed by liver and lungs, 28.7% and 27.3% respectively. Skull was found fractured in 44% of the cases followed by fractures of thoracic bones 40%. Considering areas or parts of body injured far over majority (62%) of the cases sustained head and neck injuries followed by injuries to the lower extremities (54.7%). Spot death occurred in maximum of the victims (53 or 35.5%).

Keywords

Autopsy, Victim, Impact Injury, Head Injury
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  • Study of Pattern of Injuries in Victims of Fatal Road Trafic Accidents in Nepal

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Authors

Birendra Kumar Mandal
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Chitwan School of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur-10, Chitwan, Nepal
Abhishek Karn
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
Amshu Pradhan
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
Shivendra Jha
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

Abstract


During one year study period medico-legal autopsies were conducted on 150 cases of fatal road traffic accident (RTA) victims at the mortuary of B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. Among age group 21-30 years, highest number (29.3%) of road traffic fatalities occurs. Male accounted for 76.7% of RTA deaths, with over three fourth that of female. About 3/4th of the fatal accidents took place on highways (74.7%) followed by on city road (12%). Nearly half of the victims (45.3%) came from rural areas. Majority of the victims were pedestrians (39.3%) followed by motorcyclists (26.7%). Among the victims in whom impact injuries could be identified at autopsy 61.3% of victims sustained secondary injuries followed by secondary impact injuries 58.7%. In majority of the cases, the site of initial impact of the responsible vehicle was frontal (31.3%) followed by rear (28%) and side (18.7%). Lower extremities were mostly crushed (17 or 11.3%) followed by head&neck (12 or 8%). 77.3% victims had sustained fractures followed by abrasions 73.3% and contusion 64%. In the majority of the cases, brain 32.7% was injured followed by liver and lungs, 28.7% and 27.3% respectively. Skull was found fractured in 44% of the cases followed by fractures of thoracic bones 40%. Considering areas or parts of body injured far over majority (62%) of the cases sustained head and neck injuries followed by injuries to the lower extremities (54.7%). Spot death occurred in maximum of the victims (53 or 35.5%).

Keywords


Autopsy, Victim, Impact Injury, Head Injury

References