Retrospective Study of Pattern of Skull Fractures in Different Medicolegal Autopsies

Abstract

Skull fractures occurred in RTAs, Assaults and other cases are the most common cause for hospitalization, disability, financial loss and death of the individual. Skull fractures are of various types i.e., linear, comminuted, depressed, hinge etc. Some of the skull fractures may cause rupture of dura mater and injury to brain matter thereby, causing permanent neurological damage and death. In this present study, we focused on the pattern of skull bone fractures involved in various manners like Accidental, Homicidal, Suicidal, also pattern of distribution among male and female, age wise distribution, time of death in a day, and also discussed about any other associated injuries that contributes to cause of death. 165(92%) skull fractures are observed in accidents, 141(78%) cases involve linear fracture. region wise distribution most commonly involved is base of skull region alone in 63(35%) cases commonly seen in fall from height cases, parieto-temporal and base of skull together 36(20%) cases seen in road traffic accidents, temporal and base of skull region 14(7.8%). In other associated injuries commonly involved intracranial haemorrhages and scalp contusions