
A Profile of the Autopsies of Road Traffic Accident Victims in Jammu.
639-642
Correspondence
Dr Rashmi Sharma MD, DMCH. Asstt Surgeon , Accidental Hospital Vijaypur-
J&K Health Services-Jammu-India. 216-A Gandhi-Nagar Jammu- 180004. e.mail: rashmichams@yahoo.com
BACKGROUND: RTA (road traffic accident) is the third major preventable cause of all deaths.
AIMS: To study the demographic and injury profile in autopsy cases with an alleged history of RTA.
DESIGN: The retrospective observational study.
SETTING: Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department of a tertiary care hospital.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All autopsies of RTA victims which were performed between January 2000 to December 2005, were analysed for sex, age, time of RTA, type of vehicle, position of victim during RTA, nature of injury, and cause of death.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All parameters were expressed in percentage.
RESULTS: A total of 249 RTA victims were referred for autopsy during the years 2000 to 2005. One hundred and thirty two (53.01%) victims were between 20-40 years of age, males constituted 85.14% of the total victims, and light vehicles were involved in 61.05% RTAs. 54.22% RTAs occurred during the daytime, between 9 AM to 8 PM. A total 609 type of injuries (organs involved) were reported in 249 victims. Limb injures constituted 189 (31.08%) of the total injuries, followed by injuries involving head, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and spine. Among head injuries, fractured skulls occurred in 68.85%, Subdural Haemorrhage in 79.31%, Subarachnoid Haemorrhage in 63.33%, Extradural Haemorrhage in 48.85%, Intra-cranial injuries in 21.26%, and Contusion in 35.63% of the victims. Head injury accounted for 173 (69.48%) of deaths, and haemorrhagic shock for 61 (24.49%) of deaths.
CONCLUSION: Various preventive measures like speed control, helmet use, no driving under alcohol influence etc., enforcing road safety regulations, and improving emergency medical services could be used to control the increasing toll of deaths due to RTA.