Medico-legal interpretation of casualties presenting with trauma to a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background Even though traumatic injuries are the leading cause of hospitalization in Sri Lanka, demographic profile, causes, and severity of injuries sustained have not been reported. This data will be of assistance to policy makers in the effective prevention of violence and health care costs Results Of the 626 casualties, 535 (85.5 %) were due to assault, and 72 % of them were assaulted with a blunt weapon. Of the assaults, 75 % were in the 20 – 49year age group and 53.5 % occurred between 4 pm and 10 pm. Of 55 (8 %) casualties with accidental injuries, 38.2 % were caused by falls and 38.2 % by burns. Of 18 (2.9 %) child abuse cases, 61.1 % were sexually abused. The highest frequency of, both, assaults and accidents was between 6 pm and 8 pm, while all instances of child abuse occurred between 8 am and 8 pm. Abrasions were seen in 45.4 %, contusions in 40.7 %, lacerations in 29.2 % and fractures in 21.6 %, while 12.3 % did not have any injuries. Injuries sustained were non-grievous in 65.5 %, grievous in 30.7 %, endangering life in 1.4 % and fatal in the ordinary course of nature in 2.4 %. Conclusion Being aware of the types, weapons, time of day, age and sex of victims, subjected to violence will be beneficial to reduce these and thereby reduce the economic, physical and psychological burden to the country.