Journal of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology 10 (2010)

A STUDY OF PATTERN OF INJURIES IN ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS

DR. D. Rao, Asst Prof, MIMER Medical College, Talegaon, Pune.
Dr.S. Mukerjee, MIMER Medical College, Talegaon, Pune.
Article history

Abstract
The present study was carried out both prospective
and retrospectively. The period of study was four year in
which 254 cases were analyzed. The cases consisted both fatal
and non fatal, all the cases were analyzed for age, sex, nature
and distribution of injuries sustained as a result of road traffic
collisions. The major age group affected was 21-30 years
(31.51%) and the least age group affected was between 61-70
(01.97%).in majority of Cases Head and Face was affected [ n88 injuries-34.64%] and the least affected region of body was
abdomen, (n-8;03.5%). In this study motor cyclist accident
constituted to the majority of the traffic collisions (41.73%),
which was followed closely by riders using road were affected,
i.e. passengers ferrying busses, minibuses and trucks
(34.25%), the least affected were the pedestrians who
constituted to only 04.72% percent of the collisions. The
males constituted to the majority of the collisions and the
ratio of male: female was 5.4:1.
2010 JPAFMAT. All rights reserved

Received 4 March, 2009

Received in revised form 4 January, 2010
Accepted on 15 January, 2010
Available online June 25, 2010
Corresponding author
Dr.Dinesh Rao
Asst Prof, MIMER Medical College, Talegaon [D],Pune-410507.
Phone: 0018768908343
Email: dineshrao22@yahoo.com

Keywords: motor vehicle; road traffic; pedestrian; injuries;

collisions.
Introduction

urban and rural setup. The present study was carried out
both retrospectively and prospectively for a total period of
four years, of which one year constituted for the
prospective study. All the cases admitted to the Hospital
were analyzed in detail regarding the pattern, nature and
distribution of the Injuries. The other factors like the age,
sex, type of vehicle and intoxication were analyzed. The
cases constitute both fatal and nonfatal injuries. A Total
number of 254 cases were analyzed during this period, the
details of each case were entered in a standard proforma
designed for the study and the details of the vehicle types
were obtained by the police and the attendants. Analysis
in relation to the diseases of the individual was not done
but all the individuals were screened for alcohol/drug
consumption.

Each year road traffic injuries take the lives of

1.2 million men, women and children around the world,
and seriously injure millions more. [1]
The death toll is highest and still growing in low
and middle-income countries, where pedestrians,
motorcyclists, cyclists and passengers are especially
vulnerable Over 70% - nearly 850,000 persons - killed in
road traffic injuries in 1998 were under 45 years of age.
India accounts for about 10 percent of road accident
fatalities worldwide. At present 80,000 dies annually in
India due to road traffic collisions.
In India, for individuals of more than 4 years of
age, more life years are lost due to traffic crashes than due
to cardiovascular diseases or neoplasm. [2, 3, 4] The
financial loss due to road traffic accidents is estimated to
be around 12000 crores per year. To analyze the pattern of
injuries in relation to the mode of travel, type of injury and
the distribution over the body the present study was done
with particular reference to age and sex. This conducted
study may help the policy makers and the researchers to
prevent the further deaths and disabilities due to these
collisions.

Results
Table 1
Age[Years]
00-10

Male
10

Female
05

11-20

30

08

21-30

73

07

31-40

35

10

41-50

32

06

Materials and Methods

The present study was carried out in Dr.
Bxahushaeb Sardesai Rural hospital, MIMER Medical
College, Talegaon, Pune. A Taluka level place with both

14

Total
15
[05.91%]
38 [
14.21%]
80
[31.51%]
45
[17.72%]
38 [
14.21%]

Journal of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology 10 (2010)

51-60

29

04

61-70

05

00

Table 2
Injury pattern
Distribution on Body
Head and Face[Fractures]
Lower Limb[Fractures]
Upper Limb[Fractures]
Chest[Ribs] [Fractures]
Surface and Integumentary region
Abdomen
Spine Fractures
Table 3
Pattern on Body
Head and Face[Fractures
Upper Limb[Fractures
Lower Limb[Fractures]
Chest[Ribs] [Fractures
Surface and Integumentary region
Abdomen
Spine Fractures
Table 4
Mode of causation
Means
Pedestrian
Passenger
Motor Cyclist
Light Motor Vehicle
Heavy Motor Vehicle

contributed to the majority of the collisions similar were

the results of other study carried out in other cities of the
country. [5,6,7,8,11]
The other major part of the injuries were to
riders in passengers-ferrying vehicles, this were due to the
fact of the surrounding rural background involving bad
roads and overcrowding of the vehicles and lack of
expertise of the driver similar was the view of Afukaar et
al [10] who in his study of pattern of road traffic injuries in
Ghana, found riders of the passenger ferrying vehicle were
most affected fatally and with injuries next only to
pedestrians.
Individuals in the age group 21-30 years were
the most affected [Table 1; 31.5%] and the least affected
were those belonging to the age group 61-70 (Table 1;
01.97%). [4, 5, 6, 7]
The males constituted to the majority of the
collisions and the ratio of [n-214] male: female [n-40] was
5.4:1 [Table 6]. Frank et al also observed a higher male:
female ratio.[4, 11]
The head and face injuries [34.64%; Table no 2
and 3] were the majority with associated fractures,
followed closely by the injuries associating with fractures
of the lower limb [25.20%]. The least to be affected was
the abdomen [03.15%].
The commonest injury was fracture of bones
particularly of the head and face and closely followed by
the lower extremity. Similar was the result of study done
by Wong et al in 1980.[5]The eccentric position of the
head and the weight of the head adds up to the easy
mobility than the extremity which adds to the bulk of
fractures and injuries.
The lower extremity fractures is again due to
interplay of gravitational force and velocity of the vehicle
at the time of accidents, resulting in generation of kinetic
energy that in turn results in fractures.
The occurrence of fractures was more common
than other injuries, when compared according to the
different types of accidents viz. head on, sideways and
others. Drysdale [12] in his study documented that
physicians should be alert to the fact that persons injured
in motorcycle collision commonly sustain multiple
fractures. Similar findings were also reported by another
study. [13]
The commonest Surface and integumental
Injuries (09.01%%; Table 2 and 3) were abrasion,
laceration and contusion in all the collisions.
The analysis of the details of the riders in
passenger ferrying vehicles was not possible due to
insufficient information from the police, attendants or the
patient himself (traumatic sequences), in relation to their
seating, wearing of seat belt etc.
The other limitations of this study were the
extent of Internal Injury which was not analyzed or
followed up as the autopsy was done at other centers
(fatal) and also due to discharge of the patient or referred
to higher centers (non fatal).The data beyond discharge
and death was not available. On the basis of study findings

33
[12.99%]
05 [
01.97%]

No. of Cases
88
64
34
21
23
08
16

[%]
34.64
13.39
25.20
08.27
09.01
03.15
06.30

Total-254 cases
12
87
106
35
14

Table 5
Means
Pedestrian
Passenger
Motor Cyclist
Light Motor Vehicle
Heavy Motor Vehicle
Table 6
Sex
Male
Female

[%]
04.72
34.25
41.73
13.78
05.51

Total
214
40

%
84.1&
15.9%

Discussion
In the present study motor cyclist accident
constituted to the majority of the traffic collisions (Table
no 5; 41.73%), which was followed closely by riders using
road were affected i.e. passengers ferrying busses,
minibuses and trucks (Table no 5; 34.25%), the least
affected were the pedestrians constituted to only 04.72%
percent of the collisions. In the present study motor cyclist
15

Journal of Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology 10 (2010)

it is recommended that strict licensure procedure should

be followed and minimum level of education regarding
road safety should be imparted. Policies are also needed
to protect passengers in commercially operated
passenger-ferrying buses, minibuses and trucks because
these vehicles carry a higher risk of being involved in fatal
crashes. Stricter legislation should be adopted in dealing
with rash, negligent driving and driving under the
influence of alcohol. The present study also emphasis the
need of compulsory implementation of helmet wearing for
motorcyclist. Amenable methods can be adopted to
protect the lower extremity by altering the design of the
vehicles e.g. compulsory crash guard for the motorcycles.
Strict enforcement of road safety regulations and
improving emergency medical services may prevent
needless deaths and disabilities caused by road traffic
collisions. Injuries to other body regions are difficult to
prevent and other measures such as legal and
administrative means, should be fully exploited in accident
prevention, research activities and newer policies to be
framed in designing the vehicles and roads.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Conflict of interest
10.
None declared.
11.
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