PATTERNS OF FATAL HEAD INJURIES DUE TO ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS – AUTOPSY FINDINGS AT AFIP RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the antopsy findings in cases of fatal head injuries due to road traffic accidents.
Study Design: Descriptive Study.
Place and Duration of Study; Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi from 2004 to 2008.
Material and Methods: The present study was conducted to ascertain the patterns of fatal head injuries due to road traffic accidents as documented during autopsies performed at AFIP, Rawalpindi during the five years period (2004-2008). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 14. Mean, median and mode were calculated for quantitative variables like age and hospital stay. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables like time of accident, pattern of head injury, skull bones fractured, and other associated injuries, passenger status of deceased and duration of hospital stay.
Results: Out of 550 postmortem cases received during the study period, 57(10.4%) deaths were due to head injuries. The age ranged from 19 to 51 years with mean age of 35.6+ 7.9 years. Most (50%) of the deaths occurred in 4th decade and during daytime 34 (59.6%). Majority of subjects died on spot 40 (70.1%). Most of the deceased suffered from more than one compartment hemorrhage 30 (52.6%) and multiple skull bone fractures 24 (42.1%). November was the month in which most of the deaths occurred 13 (23.1%) followed by September 7 (17.5%). Majority 36 (63.1%) of subjects were travelling as passengers.
Conclusion: Head injury is one of the most frequent causes of death in road traffic accidents. Most of the deaths occur on spot before any life support can be give to these subjects. The pattern of skull fractures observed, was quite comparable to other studies. It indicates that road traffic accidents lead to similar kinds of fatal head injuries throughout the world. The frequencies of such injuries are more frequent in developing world due to the lack of traffic safety regulations.