Pattern of Head Injuries in Fatal Road Traffic Accidents-An Autopsy based Retrospective Study

Abstract

This study pertains to observe the Pattern of fatal head injuries in road traffic accident. Post-mortem reports and clinical records of victim of RTA autopsied during the period of November 2013 to October 2014 at Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, NDMC and Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, were analyzed retrospectively. Out of 205 medico-legal autopsies conducted during the study period, RTA contributed to 105 cases of which head injuries comprised of 70 cases. Commonest age group was between 21 to 40 years Involving 40 (35.13%) cases. Motorcyclists were the major group of victims sustained head injuries. Skull fractures were present in 56 (80%) cases of head injuries; most common bone fractured was Temporal bone 38 (67.82%). The commonest type of intracranial hemorrhage was found to be subdural hemorrhage 56 (80%) followed by SAH and EDH.