Abstract
Traffic accidents constitute the substantial cause of disability and mortality in the young Saudi individuals reaching horrible figures. The aim of this study was to review and identify the pattern of injury among road traffic accident (RTA) victims as well as the peak time of accidents and their implications. This retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the period between April 2016 to March 2017 in King Khalid Hospital, Maternity and Children Hospital and Najran General Hospital, Najran, Saudi Arabia. All RTA victims admitted to the emergency departments of the pre-mentioned hospitals. Data collected from 435 Saudis and non-Saudis’ files were statistically analyzed with regard to age, gender, the timing of road traffic accidents, injury pattern, and neurological deficits incidence. Most of the RTAs’ cases (92%) were male victims with the highest peak in the age group 20 - 29 years. 58% of the RTAs happened in the evening (6:00 PM-9:00 PM) while 20% occurred in the morning. Head injury represented the most frequent pattern (36%) followed by the spinal injury (23%), lower limb injury (23%), upper limb injury (20%), thoracic injury (17%), pelvic injury and abdominal injury (8%). 4.4% of RTAs resulted in death whilst 9% of cases experienced neurological deficits. In conclusion, young male drivers in Najran recorded the highest frequency of RTAs. Initiation of road safety education and expansion of speed detectors (Saher) system deployment is highly recommended.
Highlights
The injuries caused by road traffic accidents (RTAs) become a major public health problem worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality with temporary or permanent disability [1]
Most of the RTAs’ cases (92%) were male victims with the highest peak in the age group 20 - 29 years. 58% of the RTAs happened in the evening (6:00 PM-9:00 PM) while 20% occurred in the morning
Our results showed that that 58% of the RTAs happened in the evening (6:00 PM-9:00 PM), 22% happened at night, and only 20% of the cases happened in the morning. 69% of victims were Saudis whereas, 31% were non-Saudis
Summary
The injuries caused by road traffic accidents (RTAs) become a major public health problem worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality with temporary or permanent disability [1]. Traffic accidents represent the leading cause of death and disability in the young (16 to 36 years old). It is an epidemic as serious as plague or smallpox was to earlier generations [3]. This study aimed to review the files of victims of road traffic accidents in Najran City from April 2016-March 2017 to identify the pattern of injury among road traffic accident victims. It tried to identify the peak time of accidents and their implications
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